Litchfield family in America

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929.2
L711t
pt.l
no. 5
1535202

M.L.

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

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iil*HiimM9?iV,MT^ PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 00853 9618

THE

LITCHFIEID

FAMILY

IN
AME RICA

W. J. Litchfield,
comp.

Part One No. 5

November, 1906

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Fifth Generatioti. 305

bridge, to pay all my Just Debts, — whom also I hereby appoint Ex-
ecutor to this my Last Will & Testament — In Witness whereof I have
hereunto Set my hand & Seal this First Day of May in the year of
Our Lord, One thousand Seven hundred & Ninety Seven —

Sligned, Sealed, Published, & De-
clared, by the said Samuel Stock- z'*'*'^'''^
bridge, to be his Last Will & ^^^^^^^^ STOc:Kr>RiDGE ^.J
Testament in Presence of Us- —

Charles Turner junr. Joseph Gushing. Noah Nickols Junr.

The bond of ^2,000.00 of Samuel Stockbridge, executor, was
approved October 23, 1S02. Joseph Gushing and Noah Nichols,
Jr., a:e named as sureties. Nath^ Lothrop and Isaac Lothrop
were witnesses to the bond.

The inventory of the estate of Gapt. Samuel^ Stockbridge,
w^hich follows, was sworn to, on Dec. 6, 1802.

An Inventory* of the Estate of Samuel Stockbridge late of Scitu-
ate Gentleman deceased :

" To purse & apperl [apparel], $33.05 ; Notes of hand &- accounts,
^69. 23 : houshold furneture, $296.93 ; Machanical tools, $25.85 ; P'arm-
ing utensils, $88.40; To Lumber, $32.54; Stock Ghattles, 55433.38;
To Real Estate, ^^6092. 33 ; Total, $7071.71."

In the Massachusetts Direct Tax Listsf of 1798, the follow-
ing Stockbridges of Scituate are named: Charles, Jsmcs, Sam-

* Recorded, Plyn\outh County Probate Registry, vol. xxxviii : p. 223. The in-
ventory is dated Scituate, Oct. 30, iSo2, and tlie appraisers were Daniel^ Litch-
field, James Stockbridge and Charles Cole.

t These Lists are contained in bound books, deposited in the rooms of the N.
E. Historic Genealogical Society, by the Collector of the I'ort of Boston. They
are in two Parts. That portion of Part One wliich includes Scituate and Hano-
ver is dated Mch. 30, 1799, ^-"^ is headed as follows : " General Lift of Dwelling-
Houfes, which, v.-ith the C>ut-Houfes appurtenant thereto, and the Lots, on which
the fame are erected, not exceeding two Acres in any Cafe, were owned, poffeffed
or occupied on the ifi day of October i79cS, within the Affefunent DiftricT; No. 12,
in the 6t'i Divifion of the State of Maffachufelts, exceeding in Value the Sura of
one hundred Dollars." A like poition of Part Two is designated as follows :
"General Lill of Land;,, Lots, Buildings, and Wharves, owned, poffeft'ed or occu-
pied on the firft day of October 179S, v.ithin the Affeffment Diftrid Mo. 12 in the
6th Divifion of the State of Maiiachufetts, excepting only fuch Dwelling ?Ioufes
appurtenant thereto, and the Lots on which they are erccled, not exceeding two
acres in any cafe;, are above the value of one hundred Dollars." The principal
assessor was Charles Turner, Jr., and his assistants were David Jacob, Jr., James
Briggs, jr., Hayward Peirce and Calvin Pt-irce, their autographs appearing at the
end of these written Lists. Reference will be made to these Pirect Tax Lists, in
the accounts of severaJ faqniiies in this Genealogy.

3o6 Lawre7ice Litchfield and His Descendants.

uel, Samuel, Jr., and Stephen; also David and William of
Hanover.

Children of Samuel and Sarah? (Litchfield) Stockbridge, born
at Scituate :

i. ]o\m^ Stockbridge, b. June 19, 176S; d. Au^. 26 1768
(Scit. Rec).

209. ii. Samuel Stockbridge, Jr.* b. July 26, 1769; m. 1800,

Sibae^ Litchfield (of Family No. 60), his first cousin!
K.es. Cohasset.

210. iii. Betty (Betsey) Stockbridge, b. July 24, 1771; d. unm.,

Nov. 21, 1852, aged 81 yrs. (Cohasset town records). '

•" iv. JosiAH Stockbridge, b. Aug. 15, 1773; d. July 20 17"-

(Scit. Rec). • ' /'»

V. -Kassandar (or " Kassandra ") Stockbridge, b. May 19,

1775 ; d. Mch. 20, 1782 (Scit. Rec), A daughter.

211. vi. Polly (or Mary) Stockbridge, b. Mch. 30, 1777 ; m. Joseph

Wade of Boston (intentions t were recorded on Scituate

town book, Jan. 12, 1799).
vii. Pknelope Stockbridge, h. Oct. 25, 1780; m. 1806, Fesius-'

Litchfield (of Family No. 60), her first cousin.
2i2.viii. Hector Stockbridge, h. Nov. 22, 1782; m. 1807, Clara

(or Clarissa) Nichols. Res. Cohasset, where he was

drowned in 1810.
213. ix. Alexander Stockbridge, h. Mch. 10, 1785; d. at sea in

1809 {/od WillcutVs Diary, Cohasset). Prob. unm.,

and res. Cohasset.

59

Jacobs Litchfield {JosiaJi,^ Nicholas,-^ Josiali,^ Laivrencc')
was born in Scituate, March 12, 1 7 50--1 ; baptized September
29, 175 1. " Yeoman." He was of Chesterfield when married iu
Scituate^ November 24, 1774 (int. March 13, at Scituate; April
12, at Chesterfield), by Rev. Ebenezer Grosvenor, minister of
the First Church, to Sarah^ Litchfield, his first cousin, born in
Scituate, . October 14, 174S, daughter of Nicholas'' and Sarah

* His est. admn. at Dedham (iSic^ii). Case Nos. 17,424 and 17,42;. He
was a shipwright. ^

t Their intentions are recorded on Boston records: "Joseph Wade h Mary
btockbndgecf Scituate. — Jan. 10, 1799." No marriage rec.

Fij'lh Gtiicraiion. 307

(SuKllcy) Litchfield (see pp. 147--151). She died at Chester-
field, May 7,-'' 1818 (town record).

Jacobs served in the Revolutionary war (sec Apjiendix and
iJiarv of Dea. Israel^ Litchfield), while living in Chesterfield,
Han'[)shire County, Mass., o^ which town he was one of the set-
tlers, as early as 1773. In 1772, Josiah,'* his father, had deeded
(sec p. 139) him 50 acres of land in Chesterfield, and in his will,
1783, lie gave Jacob-' all his real estate in Chesterfield (see p.
143). It is known that he settled in Chesterfield before his
marriage. After the death of his wife, in 1818, Jacobs went to
Can'.;jn, St. Lawrence County, New York,f where he died, Feb-
ruary 19, 1S25, at the home of his son, Israel Ciark^" Litchfield.

Hampshire County, established in 1662, formerly included all
the territory of Massachuset.:s west of Worcester County. Berk-
shire County was set off in April, 1761 ; Franklin County, in
June, 181 1 ; and Ikimpden County in February, 18 12.

Chesterfield was established 'ii June, 1762, out of the "new
plantation called Now Hing'h'Mn," v/ith additioiis of land, later.
In the account of Chesterfield tiven in Gay's Gazctiec}- of Ilctinp-
sJihr County (1887), p. 207, a list of original settlers appears,
pevhaps incomplete. It includes (besides Jacobs Litchfield) the
folknving from Scituate : Benjamin, Consider and Prince Bryant,
Abntr, Nehemiah and Benjrmip. Bates, Joseph and Joshua Bailey,
Charles and Job Cudworth, Robert Amos and Isaiah Damon,
Beiijamin, Thomas and Jonathan Peirce, John Pynchon \>. Pincin],
Joshua and John Rogers, Abiel Stetson, Seth, Nehemiah and
Luke Sylvester, Elisha Witherell ; from Cohasset, Ichabod Da-
mon (see page 126, footnote, this Gcnealog}-), John Stephenson,
Jesse and Zebulon Willcutt (^oe P'amily 198) ; from Pembroke,
Benjamin Bonney, Gideon and Jotham Bisbee, Joseph Nichols,
Zebulon Robin.son and Seth Taylor; from Hingham, Abijah
Whiton ; others were from Charlton, Pelham, Dudley, i)ridge-
water, ]3rookfieId, Northampton, F-aston, Mru'blehead, Mass., and
Cambridge, N. Y.

•* The Susan (Keith) Litchfield Mentoriinduin (see Family No. 317) gives the
date of death. May i-^, iSiS.

*" The Susan (Kfilh) Litchfield Mf/norartdum, and Mis. N. .M. Vaiiator, Cliaiicl
Le;:;.:c, Mich. (1S99). a gieat-granddaughiei, are auihoiiii-.-^ for tliis stjii' neni.

3o8 Lawrence Litchfield and Llis Descendants.

Holland's History of Westeim Massachusetts, vol. ii : pp. 1S3-
189, in its sketch of Chesterfield, gives the name of Jacob? Litch-
field and others, as early settlers.

Jacobs was in Scituate on Feb. 9, 1789. when he gave the
following receipt, found in the " Liba Litchfield Collection " :

SciTLATK, Feb. 9, 17S9.

Received of Daniel [Family No. 57] Litchfield, Thirty one pounds
ten shillings, also some wearing apparel, said money i^: said apparel
being a Legacy given unto me, by my honoured Father Josiah Litch-
field Late of Scituate deC^ in and by his last will and Testairieni. of
which said sum of Thirty one pounds ten shillings together wiih .?°
wearing apparel, I do acquit and fully discharge the s'^- Daniel Litch-
field his Heirs Executors &: Administrators and every of them for-
ever. In. witness whereof I do hereunto set my liand and seal the
day and year above written.
Witnesses :

John Ewell (Signed) Jacob LiTCHtir? d.

Israel Litchfield

Also, in this Collection, was found the following power of at-
torney given to John Ewell of Chesterfield, June 12, 179S (the
first part of the paper is here omitted) :

For us and in our Name to sell assign and transfer all the

Real Estate that now Belongs to the Said Sarah and that was Left t-
her by her Mother Sarah Litchfield [.see Family 29] Late of* Sci^i-
ueate Deceased of which the said Sarah is the proper heir and in out
Name to give proper deed of the Same to any person that may bye
the same and further more we impower our said attorney [to] Settle
all our accounts debts due and demands that we have against any
person or persons in the town of Scituate in the county of plynioutli
or to demand and to sue for and Receive such sums as may app^'.ir

to be our due

Witnesses : ^„,.— »-_ — ^

Benjamin Bonnev ^-^^J"'''*^ j^ ^ ' .^"^'^^TT^yfJ-^

He,veyBon„ey' ^''i^>^^^^Y^^

[Signed]

;A^^X^^/,-/^,,p

Fifth Gcnoalion, 309

On the back of this legal paper is the following endorsement :

Mr Amos litchfield [Family No. 66] Pleas to pay to Alalichi Ewell
what Shall be found to be due to Jacob lilchfields wife for her legacy
and his racate [receipt] Shall be your Discharge.
Chesterfield, June 20. 179S

[Signed] John Ewell aturne [Attorney]

Jacobs Litchfield was a farmer in Chesterfield, and his home-
stead was on the Delbert Bisbee fami. See Evert s's History of
HampsJiirc County (1879), pp. 493-506, which also states that
three of his sons, " Clark," Lot and Joel, served in the war of
18 12. On page 503, it says: "At West Chesterfield, Elisha
Bisbee buUt in very old times a saw-mill on Stevens Brook, where
Higgins' gun-tube works are located now ; successive owners
were Capt. Joel Thayer, Martin Bryant, Reed and Tower, Toy-
man Litchfield,^ and Mr. Higgins. A foundry and machine-
shops were built by Mr. LitcJificld, 1845 to '48, on the site of
Spencer & Reed's works. They were burnt. Then Edward
Thayer built a grist-mill."

There are deeds of Jacobs Litchfjcld, grantor and grantee, re-
corded at Springfield, Hampden County, and at Northampton,
Ham})shi)e Count)'. The three at Springfield include the one
already referred to, on page 1 39, and the following :

June' I, 1778. Jacob Litchfield, yeoman, and Sarah Litchfield,
"spinster," both of Chesterfield, for £20, sell to Benjamin Pierce of
Chesterfield, about six acres in Chesterfield, of which Benjamin Kidd
was an abutter. Witnesses: Moses Dammon and Edward Fobes.
[Vol. xvii : p. 246.]

March 12, 1782, Jacob Litchfield of Chesterfield, yeoman, for
;£'65, iGt., sells to Daniel Litchfield of Scituate, yeoman, "a Cartin
peace of Land Laying in Chesterfield Laying on the Easterly Side of
the Town Road that Leads By s'^ Litchfield house and is Bounded as
follows viz : Begining at a Stone-wall & runs Easterly with s<^ v>rall
about forty Rods to Benj. Peirces Lane and with s'^ Peirces Lane
Southerly Eighty Rods then west to the tow^n Rode and Then with
the Rode to the first mentioned Corner." Witnesses: Justus Wright, '

* The italicizing is done by the Compiler. This ^vas probably Lyman'' Litch-
field, a grandson of Jacob^ Litchfield.

310 Lawrence LHchfdd and His Descendants.

Joseph Bailey. Rec. Mch, 19th. p/'ol. xviii: p. 342.] This deed
is in the " Liba? Litchfield Collection."

At Nortliampton, deeds indicate the transfer of property from
Jacobs Litchfield to Gathclus Cowing, in 1791 and 1797 ; to Ed-
mund Sylvester, in 1794; to Eli Bryant, in 1799; to Benjamin
Pierce (two deeds), in 1799; to Moses Kingsley, in 1800; and
Joseph Lyman, in iSoi. Deeds to Jacobs are recorded from
Eli Bryant, in 179S; from Daniel Litchfield, in 1799; and from
Moses Kingsley, in 1 800. A deed from Sarah, wife of Jacob,5
to Benjamin Pierce, is recorded in 1799.

It is very probable that all the children* of Jacobs Litchfield
were born at Chesterfield, but the births of Israel Clark,^ and of
the older Lot^ and the older Agnes^ have not, at this writing,
come to light.

Children! of Jacob? and Sarah? (Litchfield) Litchfield :

i. LoT,^ b, ; d. young.

214. ii. Israel Clark (called Clark), b. ; m. abt. iSii,

Chloe Keith ; resided in Canton, N. Y., and in Ohio,
probably. War of 1812.

215. iii. Joel, b. Chesterfield, June i, 1778; m. Betsey Barruss,

before 1803 ; resided in Bethany, Genesee Co., N. Y.
War of 18 1 2.

216. iv. Susanna, b. Chesterfield, Aug. 18. 1780: in. Samuel

Stiles; d. Canton, N. Y., in 1848. More data desired.

217. V. Lot (" Lott "), b. Chesterfield, Sept. 25,1 1782 ; in. Susan

Keith, abt. 1S03. Res. Chesterfield. War of iS 12.
vi. Agnes, b. \ d, young.

218. vii. Agnes, b. Chesterfield, Jan. 8, 1785 ; is said to have died

at Canton, N. Y. Was she married ?

* Morse's Litchfield Genealogy gives the names ■n-ithout dates of Lot, " I. Clerk "
{sic)., Joel, Lot, Susanna, Penelope, Agnes and Agnes. His authority has not
been ascertained. It is certain that there was an Israel Clark,^ for descendants
have been traced, but a Lot and an Agnes appear in the list of children, on the
authority quoted. As the vital records of Canton, N. Y., have been destroyed by
fire on two or more occasions since this family lived there, dates and names from
that town are una\ailab!e.

" T In a list of children of Jacob and Sarah Litchfield sent by C. T. Macomber,
Bisbees, Mass., as taken by him from the Chesterfield records, is found also a
Aliriam, b. ^Ich. 23, 1776, but the Compiler is doubtful of her identity. Can any
one give further data about her.'

{ C. T. Macomber says Sept. 5, 1782. /

Fifth Generation. 311

219. viii. Pfnelope, b. Chesterfield, Dec. 15, 1787; m. " Ryal "
(? Ruel) Risley ; d. Canton, N. Y., in 1835. More
data desired.

60

IsRAEi-S Litchfield {Josia/i* Nicholas,^ JosiaJi,^ Lawrence'')
was born in Scituate, July 3, 1753; baptized September 22,
1754, Resided in Scituate and is known as "Deacon Israel
Litchfield."

Morse's LiicJifield Genealogy (1855) says of him :

Deacon Israel was an enlightened and much respected citizen.
Long will his menior)^ be cherished by the churches and people of
Scituate who are still reaping the benefits of his protracted and use-
ful life. He represented Scituate in the General Court in 1778, and
was a member of the Convention in 1779,* to prepare a Constitution
for Massachusetts. In 1820, he prepared a Genealogical tree of no
families of Litchfields, which, though v.-ithout dates, marriages and
residences and the earliest history of the race in New England,
shows an honorable reverence for sires to whom he in common with
so many was greatly indebted, and indicates a desire to benefit them
by turning their hearts to the fathers. Since collecting and arrang-
ing most of this Genealogy, I have been enabled through the assist-
ance of my esteemed friend, Rev. Daniel Wight, of Scituate, to pro-
cure this chart, ascertain its perfect agreement with my arrangement,
and add most of the families which appear without dates, marriages,
and residences.

Then follows Mr. Morse's account of the family of Dea.
Israels Litchfield, which is faulty and incomplete. The Compiler
does not wish to detract from the honor due to such men as
Morse. Deane and Deacon Israel^ Litchfield for their work in

*The Compiler finds no substantiation of this service. There was a State
Constitutional Convention in 1779-S0, a United States Constitutional Conven-
tion in 178S, and another State Constitutional Convention in 1820-21, but no
record has been discovered of any one of the name of Litchlield serving as Dele-
gate^ or Member.

312 Lawrence JAtchficld and His Descendants.

genealogy, in a time when family research was not general ; Inu
the spirit of deep, critical, exhaustive study of printed and writ-
ten records, which is now the rule among genealogist?, was in
their day almost wholly unknown ; hence the l)revity and faliibil-
jt)' of their contributions to family history. It is not knowD
\\hcre the Deacon Israels Litchfield chart, referred to b)' Morse.
is in hiding, if extant. But an exact copy of the chart, as made
by a granddaughter,* has been seen by the Compiler, which
shows good and excellent work on the part of the Deacon, as far
as it goes. Since then almost a century has passed and with
the years have come an incalculable amount of data on the Litch-
field family, in biographical and genealogical matter. This Gen-
ealogy is an exposition of the truth of these statements.

DIARY OF ISRAEL^ LITCHFIELD.

The following are abstracts from the Diary or "Journal" of
Deacon Israels Litchfield of Scituate, as written by him during
his young manhood, mostly in the years 1774-5, and as pre-
served to us. The book itself is in a somewhat dilapidated con-
dition in the back part, and several pages have been torn or lost
from it, so that it is not known just the last date in which he
entered his memoranda. It is composed of 48 pages in fairly
good condition, and two more in a bad condition, making 50 in
all which are left for perusal. These pages are about 12J inches
long and about 8 inches wide. They are sewed into a mottled,
stiff pasteboard cover. Of course there are many stains, era-
sures, and indistinct parts in it. In several instances he used a
cipher language to conceal some incidents and comments which
he did not care for outsiders to know. Eracketted and italicized
words are interpolated by the Compiler. The condition of tlie
weather is given daily almost without exception. Particularly
interesting portions are his entries in April, 1775, and again in
June of the same year ; also his descriptions of the several jour-

* Miss Sarah Baiky, dau. Rowland and Serissa' (Litchfield), of Rockland, who,
in July, 1S99, poiisessed this chart, -which, on transparent linen, she copied from
the original which she had seen many times, but of whose location she was then
in doubt. Miss Bailey died in 1905.

Fifth Gciicraiion. 313

ncys to Boston and Chesterfield. The original Diary was pro-
cured from Miss Ella Farmer of West Hini^'^ham, Mass., into
whose possession it bad come legally by will of Paul Brooks Mer-
ritt (of Family No. 220), a grandson of Dea. Israels Litchfield,
Mr. Meiritt having married Miss Farmer's sister. The Com-
piler persuaded Aliss Farmer to give the Diary* to the New-
England Historic Genealogical Society, in whose possession it
now is.

November 4'*^ Anno Domini i7[74] \Jorn'\ tlie weather Pleafant I
wrought in the {iUegibk and toni]

5''' : I Curried Leather it was Rainy weather \torn~\

5th . Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting the ReV M"" Grof-
veno[r] Preached he took for his textf the 22^ Verfe of the 7"'

Chap[ter] of Romans M"" Daniel Jenkins having a Pair of

twins Chriftned one of them was Called Silas and the other was
Called Deborah James Litchfield [Family No. 62] Commonly known
by the name of James Brine [?] had a Daughter Christned by the
name of Elifabeth

7'^ : 1 Curried Leather it hath been Called llie

wnrmefl Diyest fall that has been known tliis great many years folks
say

8"^ Lot [his brother] cut wood towards Night We Exerficed

a little by Daniels [his brother] houfe

9*'' : aboute one oclock in the morning I got up to fix to go to
Bollon after a while Hay ward Peirce and Lawrence Litchfield [Fam-
ily No. 121] came and Called me & we sat out we went by the way
of James's and in them woods we got moll Confoundedly Lost 1

* The following sketch appears on the iiisids of the first cover just before the
Diary begins, and was probably written by Taul Brooks Merrill, several years ago :

" Israel Litchfield, the writer of the following pages, was born in Scituate, Mass.,
July titl'- 1753, and died January I4t'n 1840. He was of the 5th generation from
Lawrence Litchfield, one of the original Connohasset planters (1640), having de-
scended through To.^iah, Nicholas, and Josiah. The house in which he was born
is still standing, on the corner of High and Beechwood Street near the westeni
boundary of Scituate. Me was for nearly half a century Deacon of the first
Church in S., filled many municipal offices and was twice elected representative to
the General Court. His scientific acquirements (considering the advantages he
enjoved) were very considerable, particularly in mathematics, and his excellent
judgment an.d strong good sense caused him to be frequently appealed to as an
arbitrator, lie left many descendants in .Scituate."

t In nearly every case the diarist quotes the words of the text; omitted here
foi brevity.

314 Laiurcricc Litchfieid atul His J^cscendants.

was oblig[ed] \worn off] to git James to Pilot us through. We got
to Cowings by Sunrife there we oated our horfes we got into Bof-
town I think a Httle part Eleven o Clock we put out our horfes at the
Widdow hatches* went to Dinner at Pillimst in wings Lain J we
Lodged at Night at the Widdow Hatches Very good Lodging Elce

\Jorn'] [Nov 10] Annoque Domini 1774 [a line in a peculiar

kind of cipher.]

[iorn and indistinct'] [I got] home from Boston 1/4 before three we
Stop'^ at \Joni\ and Oated our horfes we got to James 1/4 paft 9 our

folks killed' the beef

. Daniel plow^ for Jonathan Studly the v;eather pleafant

,th

12"* I Curried Daniel plow<^ for Jonathan Studly in the forenoon

in the afternoon he got wood aboute three oclock this morning

Daniels wife was brought to bed with a Son this is llicir 5"' Child
and their 3'' Son [See Family No 57.]

13**'. Was Sabbath day I Went to meeting M'' Grofvenor took

his text In 2d of Corinthians 5"^ Chapter 17*^ Verfe [Two

lines in cipher.]

14*^ In the forenoon I worked Some in the Shop and at the tan
houfe in the afternoon We went to training We met at Landlord
Fofters there were above Sixty that bore arms the Officers Draw'^
us up in three Ranks then the Captain Read Nine Articles that were
Compofed by the Officers and Comitie After he had Read them he
put them to vote Paragraph by Paragraph and they were unanimously
Voted by the Company

15th. November A D 1774 We [killed] our hogs

le"': I worked upon my gun Daniel Shoemade. I heel tap^ a
pair of Shoes for Salle [?] In the Evening I Sew'd a pump for
Daniel

17'^ : In the forenoon I Work'd at the tanhouse put 19 sides into y«
Lime In the Afternoon 12 of us met at Daniels and Excrcifed We
ufed what they Call the Norfolk Excercife the Weather Cool James
and Lot [his brothers] Split hills in the orchard field

18*^ In the forenoon I Went up to John Elmes's Jun''

there I Saw three folks on one bed Lot help'd James Split hills in
the old orchard piece Very Cold and Bluftering Equal to

'■' Widow Ilalch kept a famous boarding-house at the coiner of Winter and
Treniont streets. She v;as succeeded by a Mrs. Dexter. See Drake's Old Land-
marks of Boston, p. 307.

t " Pillims " was probably a public eating-house.

X Wing's Lane is now Kim street, Boston, leading off from Hanover street to
Dock Square.

Fifth Generation. ^ic

Common Snow Storm in Winter Daniel and I Sat out up the

River we went to M"" Gerfhoni Ewells from there to Incine [Ensign]
Turners there was Cap* Turner ; Lieu* Stetfon {indistituti Sergant
Stockbriclge cS: Sergeant Jenkins We Excefifed Some in the New
way Calid the 64"': Daniel got a Book

19"' It froze in the Shop Cellar all Day with a great fire

Burning 1 Curryed Lot and Fran«= [Francis, son of Josiahs Litch-
field, Family No. 54] threfhed Rie Daniel Shoemade

November the 20*^. Anno Chrifti 1774 Was Sabbath day I went
to meeting, the Rev^ M'' Barnes Preachd. his text was in the 84*''
pfalm. lo^"^ verfe Last Thurfday the wife of M"" Thomas Cur-
tis Departed this life

21''*' In the afternoon Lothrop [Family No. 63] and I v;ent

Down to the Neck after Rye we got 5 1/2 bufliels of Lieutenant Paul
Bailey and two bufhels of. M"" Jofeph Clapp and that was all that they
owed us I brought five bufliels on my horfe and Led all the way.
Lothrop brought two bufhels and a half on his mare and rid all the
way

22^. James & Lot Split hills in the upper field viz the old

orchard

23^ I got Some Holley Stuff for Exeltrees for Clocks, and Jobb''-.
aboule

Let Every Tory in Every town
their Sordid bad Principles quickly lay down
making humble Confefiion for their misdemeanour
their Charecter then prehaps will Look Cleaner.

24''': To the best of my remembrance I think that I Curried
Leather however I think that its not very meterial what particular
Sort of work I did : fo that I wrought faitlifully w[h]ich I Suppofe I
Did for (to Let you know it) I Do not Call myfelf a very Idle perfon :
I'm generally bufy aboute Something or other : If it be nothing but
writeing Such Nonfenfe as this is

November the 25*'^ Annoque Dominy 1774 Israel Litchfield

It is in north America in New England I Say,

See the name of the Colliny is MafTachufetts bay

The towns rame is Scituate thats the place where I Dwell

It's ab[o]ute South East from P>oil:on I knov/ ver^' well

I Whiten'^ oil Leather In the Evening the Wind blew hard at
Ahoute South It blew down Some trees alfo it blew down our bees
houfes : .... It was Call^ an uncommon hard gale of Wind.

3i6 Lawrence Lilch field and His Descendants.

26'^: 1 finifh*^ off Leather. In the forenoon Daniel Shoe-
made James & Lot Split hills in the Jonne field In the afternoon
Daniel helped Plow Lot winnow*^ 17 1/2 bufliels of winter Rie.

2yth. Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting the Re^' M'' Grofvenor
preached He took his text in Solomons Songs the fifth Chapter and
that Claufe of the Sixteenth verfe where it is written, this is my be-
loved this is [my] friend. M"" Ezekiel Hauden [Hayden] Lost a
child Last week The funeial of Lieu* Infign Otis to be at-
tended next tuesday Last thurfdays papers inform us that the

Children and Regulars that have the Small pox are Carried to the
pefl houfe. alfo that there Is Eleven Regiments of Soldiers in Bofton
(a fight with y« Indians at Virg[inia])

28th : I wrought at the tanhoufe towards night we Exerfifed at
Daniels [Ten lines written in a concealed fashion, telling about a
dance, etc., at Issachar Wade's and a visit to Israel Cowing's.]

tuesday November the 29th : I workd in the Shop Daniel

Shoemade James and Lot Split hills Sufanna behind Ix)t Rode
Down to penelopes [Family No. 74] Ifrael Litchfield Ejus Liber

30*^ : In the afternoon I went to Daniels and he Cut out a

pair of thick half boots for me and a pair of thin whole boots out of a
Sheepskin and trim"^ a pattren for a pair of thick whole boots to a
propper blgnefs for my leg thefe above mentioned three pairs are
Defired for my own wear I now have one pair of half Boots befide

December the i®' : Day Anno Domini 1774. and in the fifteenth
year of the Reign of George the third alfo the Seventh month of

the Reign of Tho'" G-gc. [Thomas Gage] over this Province

I Stuffed out Six Calvefkins and nng"^ off Some leather. In

the evening I Saw them Exerfife at Haywoods We hear that the
Small-pox is not Like to Spread in Bofton

2^; I Wrought in the Currying Shop at Night in the Even-
ing as you may Say (as Reuben says) : to wit in the afternoon We
Excerfifed at Daniels after the New form viz the 64**^

3^ Early in the morning we Dreffed Damees pigs in the

afternoon I Curried they got fire wood

4'^ Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting M"" Grofvenor

took his text in the 49*^ pfalm and I think the 10*^ verfe. In tlie
forenoon Old aunt Rebekka Ewell was prayed for being very 111 and
bereved of her reafon She was taken poorly yeflerday morning :
She Died this Day before noon I think that She was in the 84*'' Year
of her age She has been of a very Strong Conflitution the Carpen-
ters have got all the pews Sat up and Some of the Seats the Place

Fifth Generation. 317

for the Singers was erected l.ast week, the Stairs in the wefterly
porch are not yet built

December the 5''^ I Curried : Daniel Shoemade with all his

might I suppofe for this ^'s the first Day that his Apprentice (to wit
Seth Merritt Jun-^) has wrought With him he is to work with him
the Value of two or three months Daniel boards him and is to have
aboute ihirtee Pounds old tennor

6"' : Daniel Carted 1/2 a Cord of White afli whoop Stuff up

to m'' Lenj^ Stoddards at Night W'e exerfifed at m"" EHnis's-

7th : In the afternoon I clofcd upon a pair of boots I mean

a ])air of half boots for Lot

8''' ..... In the afternoon 1 went Down to the Cove and bought
Six bottles of Snuff

cf" I clofed upon my thick Boots Jt Stormed Confiderably all day
at Night (We since hear And it is Really true) that there was a Ship
Drove over a Ledge of rocks near brufh Ifland Shes a 20 gun Ship
She Stove of[f] a piece of her keel and her Rudder after She was Drove
over the Ledge. They Let go two Ancors and Rid She Leak[e]d
Something fast tho. they kept her free with their pumps. It is Said
that the Captain & mafter and almost all the reft were very much In-
toxicated with Liquors : they Say that there was three men Drownded.
there was aboute 150 Souls on board S'^. Ship: the Ship was towd
away to Bofton a few Days after 'She went over the Ledge a great
many of the men Ran away I Saw Some of them 1 Suppofe that

more Particulars will be publiflied in next thurfdays paper But

there was not &:c

Saturday. December the lo'^ I workd at Daniels Clofeing

my thick boots

ii''> of December Was Sabbath Day I Went to meeting the
ReV m'^Grofvenor preached he took his text in Hebrews 7^'' : Chapt
25*'' Verfe

i2t'> I Curried Daniel and Seth Shoemade I>ot threfli'd In

the afternoon We Exercifed at m"" Gathelos Cowings Daniel \\'ent
up to Cap' Turners & they Chofe fifers &:c

13"^ [and] 14*'' I Clofed upon my thick boots

15''^ Was a Day Sat apart by the Provincial Congrefs for a Day
of publick thanksgiving to almighty God for his goodnefs towards us

^^c t^c I and others went to meeting the ReV m"" Grofvenor

preached he took his text in the loi pfalm the first Verfe Ac-
cording to my opinion he talked very well. After the publick

Service was ended b[e]fore the people were Difmifsed there was a

3»8 Lawrence- TJtchficld and His Descendants.

Contribution made for the relief of tlie wife of Jofeph IJayden Jun^
and his (^Iiildrcn. She and four of her Children having been sick
with a feavor and thereby reduced to \ cry needy Circinnftances. ihey
are not perfectly reftored to hcal[t]h as .yet. A good many of the
pariflianers Cast in their miies I Gefs tliat there was 30 or 40 pounds
old ten[or] Contributed for her. M"" janies Cudworth is to take Care
of the money for her. This evening the Conjucal Ceremony was
Celebrated at Deacon Ifaac Lincolns to unite m"" James Jenkins Jun*"
of Scituate and mr^ Ruth Lincoln of Cohaffett and make them bone
of one bone & Flefh of one flefli M'' Nathaniel Nicols was alfo mar-
ried this Evening to M""* Sebiah Bates Amos and I went over

to Battles [Hill]. We had a dance there then Came home.

16*'^: I wrought at the tanhoufe I unhaird 21 Sides.

I worked till after Sunset and the Ice made very fast on" my flefliing
Knife and as 1 jvas trying to Scrape it off on a Stump I Struck the
Nail of my Left thumb and Started aboute one half of it

December the 17*''

Israel Litchfield Is my Name, and with my pen I wrote the Same

this book it Doth belong to me, as by thefe Lines I Sliew to thee

If I Should Chance to Lofe this boo):

and you Should Chance to find the Same

I pray Return it unto me for Israel Litchfield Is my name.

Fran*^ [Francis^] giound bark 1 workd at Daniels a Shoe-
making In the afternoon I tapd a pair of pumps for my Self. M""
Caleb Bailey told me that the night before last he had a hide Stolen
off from a fence; the hide b[i]Ionged to M"" Seth Merritt he Said
that it was a Large black Cows hide and more than Common fat on
the back he Defired me, If any Such hide was brought to me, and
ofTered for Sail to Speedely Send him werd I hear that M"" Thomas
Pinchin had a horfe Stole the Same night

i8*'\ Was Sabbath Day Father & I, Lot & Fran'^ went to meeting

M"" Grofvenor took his text in James 4''^: 7"' the Stairs in tlie

weflerly poarch are not yet built all the pews are sat up

19''' in the forenoon I work'd at Daniels Clofeing my thick boots
it raind we Exercifed in y« barn

20"' Jn the forenoon I iinifh[e]d oft some leather In the after-
noon I Clofed upon my thick boots

21^': Daniel and Seth [Merritt, Jr.] Shoemade 1 wrought with
them Clofeing boots Nehemiah Samfon broke flax at night we had
a Dance at Experience litclifield's [i'^aniily No. 44] eliflia litchiield

Fifth Generation. ^ig

[Fai^ily No. 72] fiddled I gave him half a pistereen a dredful frolic
it was

22. Daniel and Seth Shoemade I finiflied Clofeing iny thick boots
It took the Vallue of twenty Eight feet in Length to Clofe them and
Stitch them it took above 2500 Stitch and [to] Clofe them I think
it has took me Seven Days to Stich them and Clofe them

December the 23'''^ I wrought with Daniel and helped him

make a pair of thick half boots for my Self People Came up in

the wo[o]ds With their Sleds Confiderably

24"' I made this ink that thefe Letters are wrote with my

Left thumb is Very Sore and tender this Day Daniel received

a Letter from Cheflerfield wrote by Bathflieba [his sister] which in-
forms us that our friends and Relations at Cheflerfield are in good

health Daniel and Lot &c Sleded home Some wood A

little before night Daniel and Lot Went up to M^ James Stockbridges
and Bought a year and vantage Steer a black white backd one they
gave £1 : 17 : 4*^ LawfuU money Viz £1^'. o : o old tennor

25""'* I my Self, Lot & Francies went to meeting the Rev"" M^
Grofvenor Preach'd : In the forenoon, he took his text in the gofpel

according to S*: IMathew ; the 12"' Chap*^"", and the 35**^ Verfe ;

In the afternoon, the text was in James, 4t^ 7'^. the Same text that he
had Last Sabbath ; both Sermons

26*'\ I taped a pair of thick no, no, I mean thin Shoes for my Self
to Dance on

2 7^i' In the forenoon fran^ [Francis] & I Cunied Scoured Shaved
off &r Stuffd out Leather

28'^" December Annoque Domini MiPeflimo SeptingentefTimo Sep-
tuageflimo Quarto In the fifteenth year of the Reign of George the
third of Great Brittain P'rance and Ireland King fides Defendrous 6:c.
Ifrael Litchfield's Book.

Praj' Liflen and hear me and mind what I Say

for half of the work that Ive Done to Day

It is not worth Six-pence nay a groat would near buy it

Now Pvc told you the truth & I will not Deny it. [Etc.]

29'h December I turnd out Some Exceltrees, for a Clock,

out of Holley wood : It was a very tough Snow Storm yeller-

day

* Note that he does not call this day Christmas Day, for as yet no special ob-
servance was made of it by our Puritan ancestors.

320 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Descendants.

In the afternoon I

wrought at the tanhoufe: I heard that Last Wednefclay night,

in the Storm, there was a Scooner Cast awny, upon the fourth Cleft
[Cliff]. Six nicii Came afliore Drownded. and two Seen on boa'd
Living

31st I Curried Leather

January the firfl Day A U 1775 [written coarsely] this day was
Sabbath Day I & francies went to meeting the Rev^ M"" grofvenor
Preachd he took his text in the third Epiflle of John the 2^ Verfe.
I think that he talked very well After publick Excerfife was Ended
there was a Contribution made for the ufe of the Suffering Induf-
terous poor of Boflon who are fuffering on account of the Cruel
apprefTion of the Bofton port Bill or act of parliment I Cannot form
an adequate Judgment concerning w^hat quantity of money was given
'tho I'm prety confident that M"" Barnebas Little put in a Doller
M"" Obadiah Merritt, went up to the contribution-box, in order to caft
in his mite, and Struck his hand right against the box, and overfet it
into the Deacons Seet, box money and all, and threw his money after
it and made a terrible rattleing it made allmofl Every perfon in the
meeting houfe to Smile Even M"^ Grofvenor himfelf. This Day I
heard the particulars Relative to the Shipwreck noted in last frydays
account which is as follows. The Veffel belonged to Cape Ann.
She was a Double decker and a Scooner She was ladend with fifh
and boards and Bound to Domineco [Santo Domingo] they Sailed
out of Cape Ann harbour Laft tuesday there was Eight Souls on
board to wit the Cap*, mate, a paffenger, a boy a molattoe and three
other hands the Storni took them at about ten Leagues Diflance
from Cape Ann upon which they run for the Cape and made it aboute
nine o Clock But the wind blew So that they Could not git into
the harbour so they were obliged to Lay too. they expecting to be
Cafl on shoar upon this Coail often keept Sounding and a little
Before twellve o Clock a wedneffday Night they found them Selves
in twellve fathoms of water It being very thick weather and Snow
they Cou'd not make the Land so they Let go their Sheet anchor and
Rid to it a while (It is tho'jght that they were off against Scituate
harbour) then they Struck a drift they Immagin^- that a fluke of
their anchor broke, after a while they immagin'^ that the anchor turnd
and took again and they nd to it again aboute half an hour then they
Struck a drift again and went right a Shoar at Dead lo\f water they
Struck upon the Ledges off against the fourth Clift the v/eather was
so thick after that they Struck they Cou'd not make the Land the

r

M-

■I'

Fifth Generation. 321

wind was very bofterous and the Seas run very high and they Struck
and thumpd nmazeingly the Seas broke over them 'mofi; every Sea.
the Scooner held together till towards day then She Began to Come
to peices the Cap^ mate, tS. one hand were upon the Quarter Deck
being by them Selves fafned to the Crotches cS:c at Lad there Came
a Sea and nock'd off the Quarter Deck with them three upon it
the Captain and mate were drownded the other man was waflied
artioar. the Cooper made fast a peice of riging to the pumps and
took it round himfelf and held the end in his hands so as to Call off
when he thought proper, at lad finding that the veffel was a coming
all to pieces he left go his pod at the pump and Clim up the mast
She heeled to the Seaboard and the mafl fell and he fell under it but
as Divine Providince ordered it, he was wadied Quite over the Veffel
and wafhd on Shoar about Day. thefe two were all that were not
Drownded. there was the Cap*, mate a paffenger a boy a molattoe,
and another hand Drownded : The Veffel was Stove almoft all to
pieces amongst 180 hogfheads of fifli there was not a Score that
were not Stove to pieces, the men that were Saved were very much
Jamed. one of them traveld up to Cap* : Turners Bare footed in the
Snow the other got to M"" Hilands by the help of a boy that provi-
dentially- found him almoft Spent the foremaft hand the boy &
molattoe were intered in the beach the other three were kept and
word Sent to Cape ann. A very maloncally accident indeed the
Cap* & mate married two Sifters M"" Grofvenor noticed this Ship-
wreck in his prayer & Sermon he inform'd us that there was 14
Deaths in this pariffi Last year In the year 1773 there was 17 Deaths
in this Parrifti

January the 2^. Day In the forenoon, ] Curried : In the after-
noon, I took out the remainder of my old Leather : and put in the
Second fare of hides, into the Lime fat two or three Sleds went up

into the woods this Day Cap' gannets one Last night I Sat up

'till Eleven o Clock

3. In the forenoon I turn'd out Exceltrees for Clockwork. In the
afternoon I fleflicd 10 Sides

4th I went to meeting to See them Vendue the pews

5th. January in the afternoon I Went to Cohaffet to hear a

Lector [Lecture] concerning the troubles of the times the Rev* M*
Brown took for his text the 19"^ verfe of the 14*'' Chapter of Romans
the words you may Look and read at your Leafure but however leaft
you Should forget to look [for] them I will e'an pen them Down and
they are as follows. Let us follow after the tilings that make for

32 2 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Descendants,.

peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. They Sang
three times the first time they Sang the first part of the 34*'\ psalm in
the Tune that is Called the 34"\ Through all the Changing Scenes,
&c we had a dance at Richard Kilbys

6"'. lyOt and 1 Drefl flax. I brok out Enough to make 7''' he-
Swingled 3 1/2 pounds Daniel made A pair of half boots for Seth
merritt.

7*''. J liang'd out my tand leather and try'd to Dry it Some but the
weather was So freezing cold that it Did not Dry much I>ot went
into the woods to git Some wood willi the old mare and Steals he
broke down one Side of the Sled. .....

8. Being Sabbath Day I went to meeting the text was in the
Prophefy of Ifaiah 55^^ ch & 6'^' A''erfe

9^''. In the forenoon I put a Spring upon Fathers Clock to make it

Strike harder. Daniel and Lot got wood with the Great mare.

In the Afternoon we fixed the horfe-sled & Shod the ox Sled

the ground aboute 1/3 Coverd with Snow & Ice Last Evening I
Staid at home went to bed aboute 12°*^ Slept 7 hours

10'^ I wrought a little in the Clockmakeing Bufinefs Dan-
iel Shoemade This morning Died M"^ William Southworth

[probably of Family No. 20, page 120] of a Very Short Illnefs he
was at meeting Last Sabbath It is thought that he Died of an Apo-
plexy

January the 11, We went to the Training field by the rev.

m"" Barns's meeting houfe the Lower, Middle and upper Companeys
of the millitia of this town met there under arms in order to Enlist
minyte-men after we were Embodied and marchd Some the three
Companyes w^ere Marchd into the meeting house for to hear a Lector.
The Rev"" M"" Barnes went to pray[e]r then there v.'as Sang the two
first Stanzas of the 144*'' psalm after which the ReV M"" Grofvenor
Preachd a Sermon his text Second of Chronicles 17^^: i8''m Ready
prepared for the war. It was generally Concluded that he talk'd
very well after the Sermon m"" Grofvenor made a Short prayer after
which they Sang two Stanzas in the 101*' psalm Then we were
marched out of the meeting house and Embodied again and then
they beat iip for Men to Enlift as minute men there was aboute 66
men Enlified and / was one amongfl t/tem that Enlijled we marchd
into the meeting houfe and adjurnd from there to Lan[d]lord fofters
there we Chofc three off[i]cers To wit M"" John Clapp for a Cap* M""
Nathanel Winflow first Lieutenant and M"^ Hayward Pierce Second
Lieutenant and adjurnd till next wednefsday to tlie Same place &c

Fijlh Gfncration. 323

the weather very pleafant for the time of the year 1 got home

from training aboiite midnight

12*^': I Curried a little but Did no great for I was prety much
Jamb'^. this Day the Remains of M"" William Southworth were In-
tercd M/ Jofeph Whitcom Lost a young Child a day or two ago

i3«'' : I finifhd off a Little Leather. Daniel and Seth Shoemade

Lot & frau'^^ Dref'd out flax Lieutenant Hayward Pierce Came

to See me and Spent the Evening with me. I Sold him a Side of
Soal Leather at o : S'^ : 6 old ten"" per pound. ......

14"' I workd at the tanhoufe I fleflid 11 Sides Daniel and

Lot got Some wood with the two mares. Father Sold one bufliel of
Corn for 4= L m : viz ;^i-io-o °''^ t"^"' a bufhel of Rie at the Same
rate to M^ Jonathan Turner Ensign

January 15"' : It Being Sabbath Day I went to meeting The

Rev"" M"" Grofvenor Preachd he took his text in the Gofpel accord-
ing to S' : Mark 13^^ Chapter and 36'^ Verfe

16**^: I Rode aboute town upon buifinefs first I Rode to

Daniels, then to uncle Nicholas's [Family No. 29], from thence to M""
Jonathan Browns, from there to M/. Gathelos Cowings, from thence
to Coufm Elifha Litchfields, from thence to jNI"" Ifsachar Wades from
thence to nT" Dones from thence to unc [Uncle] Will'" Colliers there I
went to Dinner from thence I Rode to M'' Hayward Peirces. Hay-
ward Being with me we Went Down to the harbour to ]\I/ Watermans
Shop, and Bought Cockades from the Shop we v/ent to My Sam' :
Bryants from there I Came to Un*^ Nicholas's from thence to Daniels
from thence I Came home aboute 1 h paft Eleven oclock in the
Evening

17^'^: I .Shaved Leather, tv.'o Sides two Shoulders, and a piece
Alfo I fielhd Seven or nine Sides

18'^ : In the after[noon] we went to Town meeting which

was to Come into Some meafures Relative to the minute men they
paffed a Vote not to Raife any mony at prefent but that they might
in Some future time If they Saw Caufe. they had the Affociation of
the Continential Congrefs prefented to the people to Sign almofl all
them that v;ere there Signed it young and old 1 for one. from the
meeting houfe the minute men and Cap' Clapp and others Went
Down to Landlord fofters Agreable to an ajournment Voted Last
Wedneffday to Chufe the officers there wer[e] So Many inlifled As
to inhance the number to 88 we paffed a Vote to Divide into two
Companies 44 men in Each the upper Company Chofe all their
olficiers but we Got a little Divide'^ after we had made Some Choices

324 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Descendants.

and adjournd till next monda}' at one oclock to the Same place Viz
Landlord Foflers Etce [See Deane's LList. Scitiiate, pp. 134, 135.]

January the 19"' I Wrought at the tanhoufe Graining over

hides &^c. Daniel and Seth Shoemade

2 i^t In the forenoon, T help'd M*" Willcut grind a Raizor ; we ground
upon it aboute three hours : and then It Did not quite pleafc me how-
ever, I made it Cut, and Shaved him with it. In the afternoon, I
wrought up chamber

20"' I turnd out wheels for a Clock.

22:1 wet\t'to meeting: the ReV. M^ Barnes preached, he took his
text, in the Epiftle to the Romans ; the 5 . th : Chapter, 7th : and 8th :
Verfes

23*5 : In the forenoon, I wrought a little in Clock-work: In the
afternoon, Daniel and I, went up to Lan[d]lord Foflers; to a meet-
ing upon an adjournment from last Wednefsday ; in order to make
choice of officiers, for the Lower companey of minute men : We made
choice of M'' Samuel Stockbridge Jun"" : [Fam.ily No. 58] for Captain,
M"" Hayward Peirce for firft Lieutenant : and M'' Pickle Cufliing for
Second Lieutenant, M^ Ifrael Nichols first Sergant : they Chose vie f or
the Second Sergant W Rolon Turner for the third Sergeant and M*"
William Loring fourth Sergant the following men for Corperals Viz

Mefs^ : Ira Briant, Benj^ Wade, Eleazer Peaks, & David Turner.

this Day one Aflier a Negro man Belonging to M"" Stephen Otis had
his Trial at Landlord foflers for Breaking up M"" Watermans Shop
the Sabbath Day night before Laft he Stole goods to a Confiderable
Value the most of which M''. Waterman hath got again, the Negros
mafler agreed to give M''. Waterman, £.6 : 13:4. Lawfull money, and
pay all Charges, which added to the above ^.6 : 13-4 made aboute
ten pounds the winter hitherto has been Very favourable in-
deed there has been but Very little Snow this winter I guefs not
more than 6 Inches

January the 24'^: In the forenoon, I Curried a little Leather

James c*c Lot made a Small yoak, for the Stears : Daniel & Seth Shoe-
made In the Afternoon We Excerfised at Daniels Viz of the

M[inu]te M[e]n Sergant I[srae]l L[itchfiel]d Z[adoc]k D[amo]n,
D[anie]l L[itchriel]d, E[lish]a L[itchfiel]d

25"' I Whitened off Leather

2 6t'i 1 Curried. Aboute Eight oclock in the Evening Ed-
mund Silvafter Came here from Chefterfield he Sat out Lall tuesda}'
morning he has not been here this two or three Years before he
brings news that il is a general time of helth at Chellerfield.

Fifth Gmeration. 325

iboule with l''dniund In

the afternoon we Excerfifed at Daniels of the ni[inu]te in[e]n tliere

was my Self D[anie]l L[itchfiel]d & Z[adoc]k D[amo]n and

Benj-^ Wade Benj'\ & J wrestled together. Uncle Nicholas Sold his
mare for 96 --i 5^-0 old tennor She is a little red or greyifh white
faced mare: no going at all hardly. She is aboute Eleven years old
I think that he Soald her prety well fackto'' factorum

28'^ Edmund went up river to See his mother I unhaird g

Sides Fatlier, Lot & fran^^ Cut wood at mount hope we obtaind our
Lafl thursdays Paper in which there is the American Congrefs's Peti-
tion to his Majesty George the III'^. as alfo the begining of one John
Collins's account of himfelf M"" Quins account of Scolland [? Scot-
land] and many other Curious notions

zcf^ I went to meeting, the Rev"" M'' Grofvenor Preachd the text
was in Philippians 2^ Chap' i^' and 2^ Verfes

January the 30"' .....' I Curried, at night We went up to Lieu-
tennent Pickel Cufhing Capt Sam". Stockbridge Jun"^ and Lieuten-
ant Ilayward Pierce were there We hear that the Tories are

almost Sick of the Regulars at Marshfield but then they have got
them and there they mufl keep them

31^' we viz: myfelf D[aniel], A[mos], Z[adock], E[lisha], and 2 or
three more met and Excerfifed at D[aniers]

31^' I Curried: oflF Leather. Daniel, Edmund M'' Ellmes and Amos
went to hingham and bought powder at 16^ Shillings old ten'' per
pound

February the firfl in the forenoon Father Daniel & Lot cut

Buflies before the Door paflure Daniel and Lot and I went to train.
ing with the rest of Cap' Stockbridges Company of minute men we
met at m'' Jofliua Clapps in the Evening Lieutenant Pierce and Ben-
jamin Wade and I went to m"" Abial Turners there was a fine parcel
of ladies there to wit : Mrs Rachel Barnes Mrs fofler mr^ Randal &:c.

2** In the forenoon I holpd git wood. Daniel went up to Sam
Stockbridges Ephraim alfo In the afternoon I wrought up Chamber.

this Evening the Conjucal Ceremony was Celebrated between

mr Jodiua Bryant and W^ Abial Stockbridge they Did not make
much of a weding as I hear Daniel and Ephraim Litchfield [Family
No. 74] hapned to be there Not knov/ing of the weeding.

3^, I wrought in the Clock-makeing bufinefs Father Daniel lx)t

and Francis Cut-bufhes In the paflure before the Door In the

afternoon I went to Daniels to Excerfys the M[inut]e m[e]n but none
of them Came. Job Cowing Jun"^ Here he paid Edmund [?]

326 Lawrence IJtchfieJd a/nf Jlis Deseenilatits.

4"'-. the folks viz Father, Daniel, Lot, & frank Cut bufhes I
wrought in Clockwork

5''\ Being Sabbath Day Father 1 Eclnumd Lot & fran^ Went to

meeting the text was taken in Luke 2^. Chapter 25*-'' M"^^

Little was prayed for this Evening She Departed this Life to be
intered on Wednefday

6'^: In the forenoon I Curried In the afternoon we excerfised at
Daniels of the minute men there was D[anie]l & Z[adock] & A[mos]

& E[lisha] tSi my S[el]f in the Evening Daniel, Edmund, M^

Elmes & I. went over to Si"" Stoddards : there was James, and James
Cufliing we Staid there till one oClock in the morning

7*'' : In the forenoon I wrought up Chamber in the afternoon I
wrought at the tanhoufe Daniel and the reft Cut buflies before (Viz

in the pasture before) the Door we hear that the Regulars and

Tories keep a watch at marflifield.

8''' In'the afternoon Edmund and I went to the Funeral of

M"^ Little there was a great many People there in the Evening
Daniel Lieutenant Pierce and 1 went up to Captain Stockbridges
we were Splendidly Entertaind We Eat the fatest mutton that Ever
I Saw the Quarter weigh'* 18 pounds, it Cut near 2 Inches thick
upon the rib there was the Clerk of the minute Company (viz Dea-
con Elifha James) and the Reft of the officiers at Cap* Stockbridges

February : the . 9*'' In the forenoon I wrought in the Clock

making buifmefs In the afternoon the minute men (viz thofe

of them that are under my tuifhon) Excerfifed at Daniels to wit
Z[adock]. Daniel. E[lisha], Amos Etce

10*'': uncle Ifaac [Fajnily No. 34] was here and we Settled the

affair with Reference to Edmund [Sylvester] Concerning 4-10-0 old ten

11*'' In the forenoon I went over to ISI'' Willcuts Shop and he & I
made a Centre bitt to bore a Cartridge box. I Bored off one Box.

a little before night Cap* Stockbridge [Family No. 58] and

Sarah and their two Children Sammy and betty they Came Down in
a Whorre. Yefterday or the Day before uncle John Whitcom Sold
his mare for fifty four Dollars : (She is almolt Nine years old)

i2*'» In the forenoon Cap* Stockbridge and I went to meeting the

text was in p[r]overbs 27*^' Chapter and first Verfe a purpofe

of marrage Between M"' Jofeph Cud worth of Scituate and M"^ Elifa-
beth Souther of CohalTet was made manifift by a Peice of written
paper which we Call a Publilliment It was Sat up in the mens
poarch I think that that is \X\^ first piibHJJiment that has been Sat up
in the poarch towards night Sa'^': and Sarah went home

Fijth Gcnerafion. 327

i3«'': In the afternoon We went to training we met at M"" James
Jenkins's the Weather prety Cold there was but aboute one third
of the Comp''» after training Cap', Stockbridge & Lieu' Cufliing and
others Went to Lieu' Pierces

14 I made me a Cartridge-box, I Covered it with a Coltskin ii will
Carry ig Rounds

\Sidc entry in Diary, wriftai upright, says r^

Monday Edmund [Sylvester] went to his mother's 1 Since hear
that he and his wives mother -Sat out for Cheflerfield with a worrey
the 14''' viz tuefday

15"': We went to training we met at M"" James Jenkinss again
there was allmoft the whole Company of minute men that met this
Day But the weather was So inclement that We Could not Excerfife

much Except marching and whealing there is but Little Snow

But people are So much in want of wood that they Sledded prety
much Our Folks kept account of 32 Loads that went by the houfc.

February the i6''» I wrought upon Cartradges Boxes and

Jobb'd aboute

17"': I wrought in Clock-work a Notching Clock wheels. Daniel
and Scth Shoemade Lot and Francis went and helped James Draw

a log to the Saw^ mill out of his pallure Last Night I hear that

M/ CONSIDER MERRITT Was MARRIED to M^^ : SARAH

BIlALS of Cohaffet M"" Benj=^ Bealss Daughter this Day aboute

24 men Enlifted as part of a Company Calld rangers

18'''. In the forenoon I wrought in Clockwork James and Lot got
in Some hay In the afternoon James and Lot Shod the Sled and I
tapd a pair of pumps for my Self I Nailed on the tayjs I drove in
into both Shoes aboute 116 Nails.

19"': Was Sabbath day I went to meeting M-^ Grofvenor made his

improvement to his Last Sabbaths Sermon. In the affternoon

He took his text in the Epiftle of James the 3^^ Chapter and the 5"'
& 6'" Verfes

20*''. In the forenoon I broke flax enough for 6 or 7 pounds

I hear that Stephen otis Departed this Life Last Sattuiday Daniel
Jenkins Lost one of his twin Children Last week

21-' In the forenoon I went up to Cap' Stockbridges to get Some
oyl: in the afternoon Cap' Stockbridges Company traind by J[ames]
J[enkins's]

2 2'^ I Did a few Jobbs &c

23'' I Jobbed aboute

328 Lawrmce Litchfield and His Desccndanis.

24"^ I wrought at Daniels a Leathering a Catoos [cartouch] Box

I hear that Dwelly C[l]aps wife is [? dead] and

Na"': Wades J"""" wife Died this week

25th 1 wrought with Cap' Sam'' Stockhridge a makeing cartridge
boxes

26^'' Was SalDballi day 1 went to meeting the Rev^ M"" Grofvenor
Preached he had the Latter part of the 35"' verfe of the 12*'' Chap'

of S' Matlliew in the afternoon the text began at the 5''' verfe

of the 3^^ Cliapter of James and Containd Six or Eight verfes M""
John foffter Came into the meeting lioufe and took out Tho'" Peirce
Jun"^ to tend his Daughter She is Sick with y^ Small pox

February the 27'''. Laft night Amos and I Lodg'd at Cap'. Stock-
bridges in order to Set out Early this morning with him for Bofton
which we did : we Sat out from his houfe aboute a Quarter before two
oClock in die morning. - — we arived as far as Cowings in Brantree by
the break of Day, we Stop'd there Near an hour then we proceeded on
our Journey. I got Shoe Sot on my horfe It Coft me Six Coppars
the Next Stop that we made was at Vefes [? Veazies] Near milton
bridges where we fed our horfes we Sat out from there, and we were
obliged to go the Lower way* thro' Do[r]cheiler b[e]caufe the Small-pox
was upon the upper Roadf we arived at Boflon b[e]tween 3 & 9 oClock
in y'^ morn we put our horfes in y^ Widdow Hatches yard we Let
them eat no hay at all, we proceeded to our bufinefs about Town. 1
bought me a Back Sword or Cutlefs [cutlass] it Coft me ten Shillings
Lawfull money Cap' Stockbridge bought a hide and an half of
Moofe skin for Catoos box Straps it Cofl him ^16.10^. o'^' old tennor^
we got our Dinner at the widdow Hatches it Coft us 18 Coppars apeice
(Viz one Shilling Lawfull or 0-7^-6^ old ten) we Sat out home from
Bofton aboute four oClock P.M. we got to the Bridges in milton
aboute Sundown we Stopd there 'till almoft Daylight dawn waiting
for a man of Jiingham at Laft we Sat out from the mills and we made
no more Stops till we got to Theophelus Cufliings in hingham the
wind blew from about S : \N' very Chilly they had a very warm fire
I sat down Clofe to it at Laft the heat of the fire overcame me and
1 fainted away as Dead as a Stone and fell down Like a log I Re-
vived twife and fainted away again at Last with Some Sorts of Drops
they set me too then 1 took a little air and walked the Room aboute
20 minutes then we Sot out from there and got to Cap' Stockbridges
a Quater before 12 oClock at night there Amos and I Staid all Night
Being Something fateagued with our Journey

* Now Adams Street and a part of Dudley Street. t Now Washington Street.

Fifth Generation. 329

28"' In the forenoon 1 Staid at Cap' Stock'"': In the afternoon

we traind in Lieutenant Cufliings field there was but forty of

tliis Company that met there

Marcli 1*' I wrought with Cap* Stockbridge a Stamping Covers for

Catoos boxes Iray Bryand [Biyant] was at work Leathering

them

March, the Second 1 Staid at Siockbiidgcs this Day

makeing woods for Catoos boxes

3"^ I Shaved off and Stuffed out Some Leather

4**^ I wrought at the tanhoufe

5''' Was Sabbath Day 1 went to meeting ......

6*'': was our march meeting day I went to meeting they Chofe
all their "J own ofificiers they Cho/c Father [Josiah,'' Fandly No. 28] Sur-
vcyor of higJnvays after the town bufmefs was over Nathan Cufliirig
Esq"" made a tine Speech he Spoke by the Space of near an hour
there was Elijah Curtis a'nd David Little there Nov.- we Call tlieni
torys the Esq"". Spoke So Clofely that it made the tory's nearly
tremble after the meeting was over I went to Deacon baylcys from
thence to hayward Peirces and Sang about Six hours

7*^ In the forenoon I wrought upon Catoos boxes in the afternoon
we went to training met at Lieutenant Culliings the Cap* and both the
Lieutenants were gone to hanover in order to Choofe field officiets
Nichols & I and Turner Wet the Company a little Cost 2": 4*: 11^
old ten after training wc had a little Dannce at Abial Turners Ju""

8'h I whitned oii Some Leather Lot and P^rancies plowd

in the Evening I Cast Some bullets in Sand

9*'' I Curried Some and wrought at the tanhoufe Lot and Francies
Plowd in the forenoon but Daniel and Lot in the afternoon

10*^ I Scoured up my gun in the Evening I went up to Cap*

Stockbridges &c

II*'' Amos and I went over to Ilezekiah Hutfon to git our guns
takled up he put in a New main-fpring into my Lock we went by
the way of king Street hutfons wife Lay at the point of Death.. 1
[saw] Several flocks of wild geefe fly to day

March the 12*'' : This Day was Sabbath day I went to

meeting. 'J'iie Rev'' ]\L. Barnes Preached : He took his text in tlic
first Epiille of Peter the first Chapter the 17*^ Verfe

13**^ In the forenoon 1 made my Sword Belt and Bayonet belt Jn
the afternoon We went to training We met at Lieutenant Pickcle
Cufhings

14*'^ I wrought all day in the Clock-makeing bufinefs Ycfter-

day Daniel fet Some pelts from Bracketts Viz 10 or a 13

330 Lawrence Litchfield and His Desccitdants.

15 in the forenoon I wrought in the Clock makeing bufinefs in the
afternoon I wrought at the tanhoufe 1 put in four Sides

March the 16"^ AD 1775* This day I went to meeting It being a
day vSat apart for falling and Prayer By Recommendation of our
Provincial Congrefs. — M"" Grofvenor took his text in the 85"^ psalm
the 4^'', 5"' 6^'^ 7"' 8''' & 9"' Verfes we had no Singing in the fore-
noon in the afternoon we Sang twife

17''' I wrought in the houfe &;c

18"' I wrought in the Chamber M'' Simeon Wade Departed

this Life he hath Been 111 as to his health this great While he

Died this Evening

Sabbath 19''', I went to meeting IM"^ Grofvenor took for his text
the first Claufe of the 41^' Verfe of the 26"' Chapter of Matthew

20''' in the afternoon I went to training We met at Lieut

Pickle Cufliings we fired three Volleys Cap^ Stockbridge Shot at a

mark aboute 12 or 14 Rods and hit it Exactly within an Inch

at night I went to m'' homes's to Sing

March the 21^' I Wrought upon my gun I Spent the whole

day a Scowering her & Cleaning the Lock and fixing her after 1 had
Clean^ and oyl'd the Lock I Put in a good flint and try'd her to Burn
three Corns of powder I Cock'd her and Snapd and She burnd them
I told out Juft three Corns and try'd her again and She burnd it So I
tiy'd her Eleven times Succefiively and She burnt three Corns of
powder Every time and Did not mifs the 12*'' time She mifsed them
But I overhauld and Cockd her and She burnt them the next time
then I try'd her to burn a Single Corn of powder and She Catchd a
Single Corn four times Succeffively after that : the fifth time She
niiffd a Single Corn, but I over hauld her again and She burnt it the
next time

22^ [and] 23<^ I wrought in the Clockmakeing bufinefs and Sat up
a Clock and Sat her to going aboute Nine oClock P M. this Clock
I Defign for one M"" Seth Soaper at the Eftward being Spoke to to
make one for him by mr Elijah Stoddard he being his factor I am
mistaken it was yesterday that I Sat the Clock up. this Day [23d]
1 made a pair of hands for the Clock

24*'' Mrs Ann Turner Came here I made a paper face for

my Clock &c

25 I Sat up a black weather Cock upon the barn with the

Date of the year (17 7 5) v/rit with white paint on Each Side

FAST DAY" was wriUen perpendicularly at the Ifft side of this entry.

FiftJi Generation. 331

March the 26**^ Sabbath day I went to meeting one M''

Shaw Preachd (he being a Schoolmafter) he took for his text the 13'^
\'erfe of the first Chapter of St. John the Evengalist the words you
may look at your Leafure 1 Call'd m'' Shaw a Strong Calvinift

27''': I Curried I^eather the Weather cool

28 I wro[u]ght in Clock-work makeing the Strikeing part for my
Soaper Clock

29 I Curried off a Side of Leather for m"" Jofhua Bate and Did

Sundr}' other Jobbs I went over to M"" Jofliua Bates's to Carry

home a Side of Leather I Borrow'd a tune Call'd the North wind
adapted to I)"" Wats's Sapphick Ode.

30*'' In the forenoon I Rode down to Ivf Nat*" Wades and saw
Abednego make Brafes for Caps, this Day I got my Leather Cap M''^
Benj-^. Clapps Daughter made it it Cost three pistereens. I \ven.t
from Wades to the meeting houfe to meet with the Singers they were
not all there So we adjoumd the meeting till Next thursday Evening
at M'^ W'": Haydens. Nathanel Mott buried

31 I wrought upon my Clock makeing the S[t]rikeing part

April the first I work'd upon the Strikeing part of my Soaj^er Clock

2^^ I went to meeting M"" Grofvenor preachd he took his te,\t In
the Book of Job the 14"' Chap' and 10''' Verfe

3^' in the afternoon We went to training we met at i)ickel Culh-
ings there was aboute 40 of us that met Serg"'* 2^ Day

4^'^ [and] 5''^ I wrought in Clockwork makeing the Strikeing part ....

April the 6''^ I Finifh'd the Strikeing part of my S[oape]r

Clock and sat her up & Sat her to going I think that the makeing
the Strikeing part has Cost me a little be'ter than Seven Days worke

In the Evening I went Down to M"" W"i: Haydens the harbe-

leans [? harborites] Did not attend So we Did not Do any bufinefs
I^tce

7''',, I Wrought at the tanhoufe & ground a bed of Bark and Laid
away Both fatts of Leather y^ is y^ i-*^* time

8''' I Curried a little : and Stamp'd a Cover for a Catoos Box for
Seth merritt Jun"": the weather Cool In the Evening one of my
teeth ach'd a good Deal, aboute 9 o Clock I went to bed and Layd
& Roled and turnd too tSc fro till a little before ten then I got up
and Built a fire and Sat till almost Eleven oClock then I went Down
to Neiniah's [Merritt's] and had the tooth puUd out ; It Came out
very Eafyly I gave him a Pistereen I got home again a little be-
fore midnight and went to bed and Slept well

9*'', I went to meeting M'': Grofvenor Preachd

332 Lawroicc I.itchfidd aiul His Descendants.

lo*'' In the Afternoon I went Down to M"" Nath': Wade's

Seinor : and PZngrav'd one Brafs in the Evening I went to M' Will'"
Haydens In order to meet the Reft of the propr[i]etors to Settle Some
affairs Relative to faceing & Seeting our Selves they got the Vote
fo; tlie Singers to face the minifter when they Sang and We Chofe
out of the Body a Committee Confisting of the following Gentlemen
to wit Cap* Infign Otis Mefs"": W"' Hayden Lawrence Litchfield
[Family No. 121] Ncmiah Merritt Jofhua Otis &• Benj^ Bailey they
made their Report to the body w[h]ich was accepted (mind by the
way that before this Comittce went out we had agreed that five of the
Bass & five of the lennor Do Set in a Seet) the Report of the Comit-
tee is as follows towards the weon.ien Viz at the right hand Was Seated
m"" W"': Haydon Next to him Viz at his Left hand M"" James Turner
Jun"^ Next m"" Jofhua otis Jun"" {there appears to be a hiatus at this
place'] at the right Hand of the Bafs m"" Hay ward pierce next Cap'
Infign Otis next Daniel Litchf'^, A^ext my Self next Eliflia Lappum
thefe are to fill the fore Seet after the meeting broke up I went
home with Abednego Wade

April the 11'*^ I Wrought with M"" : Abednego Wade a make-

ing Brafses for Capps he and I Engraved 17 or ]8 and tlie rest of
them Pollifhd them of[f] I Did Not Come home this night

12*'' I wro[u]ght with Abednego Makeing Cap brafses

i3i'> in the morning I Came home from M*". Nathanel Wades

In the afternoon we went to training We met at M'' Jcfliua C'liijip;.
Cap' Turners Company of Rangers Likewife met at M7 Clapps We
march'd from there up to the Liberty tree, where we met Cap' John
Clapps Company of Minute UTin the three Companies Drew up in
Battallion & were Excerfised By Major Jacobs.

14'^'; I was poorly we got a pine Log to the Sawmill f(ir James
and I got Some Beach Clapboards Saw'd for Clockwork

i5''» 1 Did a few Small Jobbs Being Something ])oorIy James i\;
Daniel plow'd for John Elmes Mary Peck Lodgd here

16''' I went to meeting the Rev^ M"' Shute preaclid In the fore-
noon he took his text in the Gofpel acording to S' John the Evenga-

list 3'' Chapter & 19 In the afternoon he took his text in the

Book of Job the 22'' Chapter 21*' Verfe I hear that there is good

News (Jome from England.

17 1 wend [went] Dov;n to Abednego ^^'ades I Wrought Almost
all day upon a Circle for a Clock

18 I wrought with Abednego Makeing Br[a]fses for Caps I was
Something unwell

Fifth Generation. 333

April the ig"' A D J-J-/S Last Night 1 Slept aboute 4 or 4 1/2
hours 1 got up this morning at three oclock to go up to moors forge
to a general Review of our Regiment of minute men We went upon
ilie I/ines aboute Eleven oClock there was 9 or 10 Companeys of us
tho' before we v»'ent upon the lines a minister (I think they Calld him
m"" hitchcock) Went to prayer with us firstly tho' there was Sang a
psalm I think that it was two Stanzas <&: an half in the iS«'' psalm IJe-
gining with the 32^* Verfe The major Excerfifed us a little while then
the Battallion v.-as Uifmifsd for half an hour to go to Dinner then we were
Calld to amis again by the Beat of Drums While we were Runing to
our Several places, — M"" Rolin Turner hapned to Run upon the arms
Belonging to a Bridgwater Company the Century [Sentry] that was
Set over their arms Did not Speak to him to Defirc him to go off
from the arms but imeadately Charged their Bayonets upon him they
prickd him in three places one Bayonet Struck him on the Side of
his Deg Just above the calif it Struck the bone he Received an-
other wound in his thigh \j-est of line has been blotted out] We at
first thought that he was worfe wounded than he was this Second
Spell we were Excerfifed aboute 2 or 3 liours then the Battallion Was
Dismiffd but Just as the Battallion was Difmiffd there Came word
from a post that the Regulars were marchd out of Boflon and were a
fighting with our people in Concord when we first heard the rurnor
Some Discredited it and Some Believed it we heard that aboute
12 00 of the Kings troops went up Cambridge River in boats and
I-anded at watertown bridge and marchd towards Concord where our
magizene Is kept it is Suppofed with intent to take our ammunition
& Deftroy our provifion they got very near to the magizene before
our people Could make any head against them, our people began to
gether the Regular officiers Commanded them to dispcrce & ordered
the Regulars to fire upon them which they did and killd Six of our
people upon the Spot then our people to the number of aboute 400
gave them Battle & Caufed them to retreat till a Reinforcement of the
Regulars Came up to their aflfistance then the Regulars made a Stand
and our people were rather worfled till more of our people Came up
10 their aflistance then the Regulars Retreeted and our people fought
theui till they Retreated Clean down to Charlestown hill there the
fight Ceaf'd. according to the Befl intelligence that J Can get it is
Said tliat there was 34 -of our people killd and of the Regulars aboute
300 killd and taken prifners the Regulars in their retreet Burn'd
Some houfes and Did Some other mifchieffs [Compare these daily
entries with those in Rev. Pauls Litchfield's Diary, Eamily No. 99.]

334 Lawrence Lifc/ifcld and His Descendants.

We got home from the muster aboute 9 oclock we Expe[c]ted to
be muflered Before morning accordingly we were for aboute 12
o Clock William Corlile Came here from Cap' Stockbridge with
orders to me to Larrum the Street 1 jiroceeded Down as far as Cal-
vin pierces and ordered them to meet at upriver meeting houfe by tlie
Sun an hour high Compleat in arms with 4 Days provifio 1

April the 2ot'' Ann' 1775. Last night & this morning the whole
town was Allarm'd in confequence of the Battle that xvas fought in
Concord yejterday Three Companyes of this town met at upriver
meeting houfe the Bell rung and the people Colected from Every
part we Staid there till past Noon then we marched down to the
the lov.cr meeting [houfe] there we Sat our gaurds and incamp^.
the word of parole was Infpection there went a grand gaurd Con-
fisting of 40 men to patrole Down upon the third Clift under the Com-
mand of Cap' Infign Otis they took 5 or 6 torys to wit D^ Charles
Stockbridge David Little Elijah Curtis Benj^ James Jun"" vVc, — 1
Slept aboute an hour and an half I was in a very 111 State of health
this morning and remain unwell yet we hear that Col Cotton of
Plymouth has marchd his Regiment into marflifield to obfcrve the
Regulars that are there the N" of the Regulars that there is at

marflifield is aboute 120

21 In the morning We wa[i]ted upon the prifners down to Deacon
Baileys and a number of us went to Brecfast there upon freecost 1
had Chocolate for brecfast aboute 10 oClock we were Calld to arms
Colonel [John] Bailey* was Down with us and ordered the Company
of Rangers thai were under Cap' \\'"': \_nafne blotted, bnt j'rol>al'h\
Turner] and our Minute Company under the Command of Cap' Sam"
Stockbridge Jun"" (tho' properly the Rangers were under Collonel
Thomas yet Collonel Thomas had given Col Bailey orders to Com-
mand them at this time) Colonel Bailey I Say ordered our Companey
the Rangers & Cap' Galen Clapps Comjxany to march up to Wales's
to gaurd a Cannon down to marflifield. we were very Loath to go
b[e]caufe there was Several tenders playing off and on upon our Coafts
however we were obliged to go So we marchd up to upriver meet-
ing houfe and Joind Cap' Galen Claps Company we marchd up to
wales's and took the Cannon under our protection we march'd from
Wales's to D"" [Jeremiah] Hallsf in pembroke there we heard a
rumur that there was 500 Regulars Landing 'in Scituate We Sent
posts to the Co' for Leave to march Back to Scituate, which after we

* See page 110, Family No. 14. j See page 109, Family No. 14.

Fifth Gencraiioii. 335

had marc'' aboute a mile beyond D'' Halls the major Came to us and
ordered us to march back to Scituate. the Sun was aboute an hour
high \vc marchd Down to upriver meeting houfe where we heard
that there was nothing in the rumur of mens Landing in Scituate but
that the Regulars were embarked on board a tender and gone off
We encampd this night at upriver meeting houfe and Sat our gaurds
the word of parole was Hancock I Slept aboute an hour & 1/2 we
heard this morning that Last night the regulars fired upon our gaurd
and killd one of them and took the other but this news was Contri-
dicted in a few hours 'tho' yet we heard that tl- '

Last night and Difmifd this morning; ,"'' _

April the 22^ Lafl night three Companyes of us Lodgd at

upriver meeting houfe in the morning we musterd up and went to
the houfes Round aboute there and got our Brecfafts I went to
Brecfast at M"" Hawke Cufhings we had Chocolate for breckfast
after Breckfast we were Calld to arms and our Company was Difmiffd
till four oClock this afternoon the reft of the Companye's were Dif-
mifs'd J Came home and Staid a few hours then we went up to the
meeting houfe we marchd from there Down to the harbour, we
went to m"" Jofhua Otis's We Sat our gaurds two men upon the
Ceder point and Six upon the third Clift and a Ce[n]tury at the Door
the word of parole was pembroke I Slept aboute two hours.

23 this Day Being Sabbath Day I was not very well for this is the
fifth Day that I have been under arms the Cap* Dan[i]el and my
Self and Some others went to Breckfast at m*" Eli Curtiss M"" Job

and Ignatious Vinal gave us a Dram round in the morning. this

morning a file of men Came to us out of Cap* Galen Claps Company
and brought Fredrick Handerfon for us to keep under gaurd The
most part of our Company went to meeting under arms Cap* Infign
Otiss Company Calld the royal Americans went to meeting under
arms alfo. our Company Sat in the weflcrly part of the Body of the
Sects the Royal Americans Sat in the Easterly part of the Body of
Sects. 1 never Saw Such a Sight in the meeting upon a Sabbath
Day 1 Suppofe that there was Near 150 men under arms. The
Rev"" M"" John Brown of Cohaffet Preachd to us he took the whole
of the 123 psalm for his text I think that he talkd very well upon
the Subject and occation At noon I went to Lieutennant Hayward
Pierces and got a good Dinner and Shaved my face. After meet-
ing aboute 20 men of our Company went to Supper at M^ Increace
Claps the refl of the Company went Down to the harbour and thofe
that wen I to Supper at m'' Claps got to the harbour aboute Sun Down

33^ Lcnvrcnce LUchficld and His Descendanls.

the weather Dull and foggy this Night Lieutenant Pierce & Calvin
Pierce & I went to Supper at Cap' Barkers and Lodgd there this is
the first night that I have Lodgd in a Bed Since Last wednefsday
night I Lay on bed aboute 2 hours I think it Very Remarkable
that I have Stood the hardships that I have gone through

April the 24"^ In the morning we Saw Several Veffels off

the harbour. We Shifted our Quarters from M"" Otis's to the widdow
Chittendens houce there we had two rooms and a Chamber given
up to us we fixed places to Lay upon after this manner we got a
pine board and Sawed it off Jufb Long Enough to Reach accrofs the
Room and fasned it up aboute Six feet from the wall then we put in
Straw and Borrowed an old Sail and Spread over we had Some
Narrow Sacks filld with Straw for BoUlers w[h"lich maid a very Con-
venient place to Lodge upon we had Either Blankets or Great Coats

to cover our Selves with Cap« Stockbridge went to Marflifield

and Colonel Bayley ordered him to take all the tory's in Scituate to-
morrow and gaurd them to marfhfield the weather this Day very
pleafant I got my breckfast at M"" Eli Curtis's I eat my Dinner

out of my pack this Night I Layd upon the Straw above Spoke

of.

25*'^ In the morning Cap* Stockbridge Divided his Company into
Several parties to go after Tories I went alone to D' Charles Stock-
bridges and invited him to go over to marflifield he was Very Ready
to go So I went to Breckfast with him and then we Sat out and went

over to marflifield. the Rest of our Company muflered up 30 or

40 tories and gaurded them over to marflifield there they were Ex-
amin'd By the officiers Some of them were Let go upon parole of
honour Some to appear there again Next friday without fail unlefs
their Examination is adjournd But five of the tories wer[e] ordered
to be gaurded up to the Congrefs there to be Examind the names
of thofe that were to be Sent to Congrefs are as follows Eredreck
llanderfon, Charles Stockbridge Elijah Curtis and David Little, they
are to Set out tomorrow morning this night they are to be gaurded
at D"" Charles Stockbridges as we were Comuig Back to the harbour
we met Isaac Buck he Enquired of us whether thofe men that were
Calld tory's were not Defired to go to niarshfield we told him that
they were So he kept along: (N : B : he is Calld a tory) our Com-

miffion officiers Staid all Night at marfhfield. we had pork and

Beens for Supper

April the 26''' In the moming (the officiers being at marfli-
field) 1 ordered the Drummer to Beat to arms 1 Excerfifed the Com-

tii..;,-:^.

1535202

\;,

Jnfth Gcucrniion. 337

pany we marchd Down to watermans Shop and got a Dram Round
we paraded a spel and then went to our quarter and Eat our Break-
fasts we had hard Bread and Chocolate for breckfast then we
Scoured up our firelocks and Calld out to Excercife we Stood to it
till almost noon then I DifmifTd the Company for Dinner we had
Stued pork and Beens for Dinner after dinner we Refted awhile
then we Calld out to Excerfife we Excercifed till almost night then
tlie Capt Came to us and told us that if 12 of us would Come out of
the Companey to Stay and keep gaurd the Rest of the Company
might go to their Several homes and appear at the harbour next Sat-
urday Night accordingly twelve of us agreed to Stay Including the

Caj^ain to wit Cap^ Stockbridge, my Self, Atwood moot [Mott]

Confider merritt Ira Bryant Amos Dunber Ezra hayden Elifha Litch-
field Jun'' Jonathan hollowell Benj» gannet Barker Cufliing and Sam-
uel Brown Jun"" we hear that the governor propofes to the Inhabbi-
tants of Boflon that if they will give up their arms the gates of Bofton
Shall be opened and the Inhabitants of bofton Shall have Liberty to
go out we hear that they have agreed to give up their arms

2)*^' the Cap*5 ancle was very much Swelld and very Lame indeed

We Excercifed Some the word of parole was pembroke M""

]>arker Cudiing and M"" Ira Bryant Stood the first watch Down upon
the Ceder point they Stood half the Night then M^ Atwood Mott cS:
Dunber Relieved them M"" Benj^ Gannet and I Stood the Latter part
of the Night Down upon the third Clifft toward Day I was taken
Very poorley Sick this Day we have heard a good many fiying
Stories.

28''' In the morning we Saw the Tor/ Sloop off against the har-
bour with her Deks Covered with men we got our Breckfasts then
8 or 10 of [us] went Down to the fourth Clift but before we had got
Ihcie the tory's had Landed all their weomen and Children they
Landed them allmost against the fery when we had got within
aboule half a mile of the place where they Landed we Saw the Torys
Boat Coming afliour then we all put into a run but the Boat went on-
board before we Could git to her then we went over the fery to
marlhficld the tory Sloop went to the Southward of the mouth of the
river an.d it was Suspected that they were Lauding tory's Capt Stock-
bridge was ordered to take a Boat and 15 or 16 men with him and go
Down the river and See But when we Came where we Sufpectcd
they were Landing we Could Not find out that there was any tories
Landed After we had traveld aboute a mile to the Southward of
the mouth of the river the wind Breezing up at S E the tory Sloop

;S Lawrence Litchfcld and His Descendants.

hung out a flag and fired a gun an[d] Shaped her Courfe for Boflon
then we returned to our Boat But the tide run So rapidly that we
Could not Stem it So we watcd about two hours then after a very
hard Scrabble we got up to the ferry went over and Returnd to the
harbour Ezra Hayden Being Cook he had a good Supper Ready
for us.

29"^ Laft Night when the first Ce[n]tury Came back from the
Cedar point (Sam" Brown Jun"^ was afleep he ought to have bean
upon watch at the Door) I Say when they Came back the[y] found
that Brown was afleep they Came into the houfe Softly and took
out Eight guns then they mufi:ered up Cap* Stock'" and three more
to go upon gaurd they muftered up and when they Came to Look
for their guns they Could not find them then Brown was almost
Scare'd to Death to think that the guns were Carried off in his watch
he was So Scared that he Stood all the reft of the Night and never

offered to Call anybody to relieve him. this Day we Excerfifed a

little the weather pleafant we hear that when the tory Sloop went
by the rocks at Cohaffet there was Levi Bates Zealus Bates and Rich-
ard Kilby in a boat Near gull Ledge and the tory Sloop Came very
near them and fired ten or a Dozzen guns at them they Saw the
Balls Strike the water a little Short of them a little Before night the
mofl; of our Company met at the harbour and Lieutenant Pierce and
a party of men took our bufinefs upon them and we 12 that have had
the watch went to our homes

30'^. Sabbath Day I w-ent to meeting I'he Rev"" M"^ Barnes
Preachd he took his text in the first Book of Kings the 20"' Chapter

and the Last part of the n*'^ Verfe I faw M"" Jonathan Pierce*

and M*^ Elijah Worner [Warner]* at meeting they heard of the Late
battle with the regulars Last fryday a week ago. More than 50 min-
ute men in the town of Chefterfield Sat out Down to Bofton they
arived at Roxbury the tuesday following pirce [Pierce] Said that he
was very much tired with the Journey he told me that our friends
at Chesterfield are all well he Says that Bathfheba [Family No. 66]
was Condemnd homefick Last winter

May the first Day Ann°. 1775 ] Refted and Recruted myself and
wrouglit a little in the Evening Lot Caught a few herrings. —

2*^ in the moniing Lot went and Caught a few herrings after which
we went Down to the harbour the whole of the Company was crderd
to meet this Day : aboute 40 of us met and Excerfifed : and V>'ent to

* See Faniiliey Nos. 82 and 83.

Fifth Generation. 339

Dinner at the Barrack after Dinner we were Calk! out and Dismiffd
all but 18 that Chofe to Stay to keep gaurd there Came up a Squall
of rain and we went into mother motts houfe after awhile it Slack'd
and We Came home, after we Got home Daniel and Lot and Amos
went after Herrings Lot Caught about 7 Dozzen Francies Caught
21 IXizzen It is thought that there has been 10 or 12 Barrills of
herrings Caught this Day :

3'' Jnmes and Daniel finifhd Plowing the field below the

houfe : I^ot and I Fettered ten Sheep the peach trees in their

bloom the apj:)le trees nearly leavd out the beach buds a good Deal
Swelld

4**^ Daniel, Lot and francis Went to work over to James's with the
team Father Carried the blue Cloath to the Mill J mended my
Naild Shoes and hardned a Raizor and ground it and honed it and
Shaved my Self I am unwell yet

May the fifth Day Last Night Daniel was very 111 this Day

Lot and francis wrought With James at Cohaffet Father got a plow-
fhear mended and went to mill. In the forenoon I w-ent Down to the
Widdow Stephenfons (her hufband w^as buried the Day before yefter-
day — he Died of a Confumtion) I Bought four yards of fine Cloath to
make me a Shirt I gave twenty Shillings old tennor per yard I
Bought Sb: Bottles of Snuff 1 gave two Dollars for them I Bought
a Cake of Ink w[hjich [is] this Ink that thefe Lines are wrote witli I
gave 13 1/2 Coppars. the Cak[e] was made by S : Norton

May the 6^'' This day Daniel and Francis Wrought With

James Father went to mill. Lot hung out Some herrings

Ycflerday when 1 was Down to Cohaffet I heard that Governor Gage
has Sent all the arms belonging to the Boftonians that are good for

any thing Down to Caflle Williams. I hear that there is a Ke-

belHon in Ireland But as to the truth of it I Cant Say But in my mind
it wants Some Confirmation I alfo hear that Lord North is Be-
headed But I fear that there Is no Such good News that will prove
true

M[ay] 7''' Sabbath Day I Went to meeting the ReV: M"" Grof-
venor Prcach'd to us he took his text in the first Epiflle Generel of
Peter the 1^' Chapter and 8'*^ Yerfe

8"' In the morning I Went Down to M"^ Sam" Litchfield's [Family
Xo. 39] and bought an old Brafs kettle I gave a Dollar for It It
Weigh'd Seven pounds and an half From there I Went Down to
Abednego Wades I Wrought there making a Dial Circle for a Clock
face. A little Before Night He and I Went over to D'' Charles Stock-

34° Lawrence Likhfuld and His Descendants.

bridges's Abednego had a tooth Drawed he gave the five Shillings
for Drawing it In the Evening We went over to M'' Ho[l]nies's

there We Sang Some We hear that (Yea we are Well allured

of it) that the Gaurd at the harbour took four Tory's one was old
Daniel White cNcc they took them out of A veffel in the harbour they
Came in Last night. After our people had got on board the Yeffel
the torys talkd Very high our people afkd tliem whether they had
any guns or Ammunition on Board : they told them that they had
none at all but that Did not Satisfy them So they Sarched the Veffel
and found four guns on board Charged and four Powder horns of
Powder & two Cags of Powder alfo : It is Said that the whole Quan-
tity of Powder was aboute forty Weight they found Balls nearly an-
swerable to the powder they took the torys under Cuftody.

9''' I wrought with Abednego Wade makeing a Dial plaie for a
Clock-face and cuting Braffes for Caps

A SCENE OF HORROK

The Port of Bofton all blockd up with Ships of war & tenders
The town with Savage Regulars & Still more Vile Commanders

May the 10''' In the Afternoon I went to Upriver meeting

lioufe there was five Companies Belonging to this town met there.
Cap* Stockbridge Beat up for Volinteer[s] to go into the Standing
army the Company was to Confifl of 56 men Sergents Included he
beat round and the men thronged out and filld the Company imedi-
ately After Cap* Stockbridge had got his Company one M"" Nath'
Winflow Being a Lieutinant in Cap* John Claps Company of minute-
men Beat up for Volinteers and there Was aboute 4 Enlifled under
him: Last monday Penelope [Litchfield — Family No. 74] Came
here and tv.'O of her Children People Begin to plant Some People
have moil Done

ijth Was a Day Sat apart for Fafling and Prayr By order of the

Congrefs M^ Manffield a tuturer in the [Harvard] CoUedge

made a prayer AP Grofvenor preachd He Took his text in the
Lementations of Jeremiah the first Chapter and the first and Second

Verfes. How Doth the City Sit Solitary that was full of people

how is She become as a widdow ! [Etc.] [Boston is meant.] there
was the New Enlifted Soldiers at meeting under arms : the Sermons
that m* Grofvenor preachd I think were Very Extreordinary and Ef-
fecting He Shed tears him Self and many of his hearers Notis was
given of the funeral of Deacon Thomas Peirce he Departed this

Fifth Gencraiion. 341

Life Last Night I gues tiiat he was Near 80 Years old the

luiieral is to be Next Saturday at three o C

i6'h James and Daniel I i^^: Lot Wrought upon tlie Uland field
Sleding Stones

May the 12^'^; Day 1 went Down to M'' Nathanel Wades I

Cut out Brafses Abednego [Wade] Sat out for Cambridge to work
in y^ gunfmith bufmefs Li the evening 1 walked over to m"" cud-
worths

13*'^: 1 wrought at M''. Wades makeing Cap Jiraffes for the marfli-
field men

14''': Sabbath Day I went to meeting one M"" Mansfield Preachd.
In the forenoon he took his text in the Book of Judges the Sixth Chap-
ter and the 13''^ Verfe In the afternoon he took his text in

W

upon the Illand a Diging and hailing off Stones Many of the

appletrees Cherey trees &c are full out in bloflom

17"^: I went Down to M'' : Nathanel Wades there I finifii'd oft"
Some Braffcs for Caps And ground Fathers Raizor and Sofned my
Raizor and ground it. In the Evening We Saw a great I^ight aboute
in the Range of Boflon which made us Sufpect that Bofton was on
fire : the Light Continued till pafl ten o'Clock in the Evening then we
went to bed : I got up a little Paft the break of Day the moon Shone
\'ery bright and I Could not Discover any Light where I obferved it
Laft night : I Came home and Look'd out upon Every Emenence but
1 Could not Difcover any Light or Smoke. I hear that Cap' Stock-
bridges Company Pafl Mufler this Day I hear that they have had
Jonathan Hollowell under Gaurd &c

May the 18"': 1775 : James, Daniel my Self, Lot, Francis and Joab
[Family No. 195] Wrought down upon the Ifland Breaking up New-
ground we had Eight Cattle and an horfe one pair of them Be-
longed to John Elmes Whiles we were plowing in the after-
noon Uncle Whitcom Came to us and told us that a man brought
News to Cohaffet that Yen;erday at five oclock in the afternoon the

town of Boflon took fire : but by what Means he Did not hear.

this Evening at 3/4 of an hour pafl Eight o Clock I went out and
Look'd to See if there was any Light towards Eofton but I Cannot Dis-
cover any therefore I Conclude that the fire at Boflon is Extinguifh'd.

19* Day we broke up new ground upon the Ifland we got to
work aboute Six oClock in the morning we Left off work aboute
half paR EIe\en o Clock in the forenoon In the afternoon we

34^ Lmvrericc Litchfield and His Dcscaidanfs.

finifh'd breaking up the Ifland field whiles we were Plowing in the
afternoon M' William Brooks Came to us and Inform'd us that [he]
heard that there was 40 Houfes Burnd in l^ofton the Day before
yefterday

20"' They planted the Ifland field and Plow'd the potatoe-yard and
planted it I ground bark and lay'd away the Leather

2J==t this Day being Sabbath Day the Morning Cool I Rid l)o\vn
to the meeting houfe Jufl; as I had got off from my Colt and was a
puting on the halter I Saw a Couple of men Came Rideing up to the
meeting houfe from towards hammans upon the full run they and
their horfes were all of a Sweat one of the men was John Sutton
Jun"" the other Was Tho"' Studley. they told us that there was tw^o
Ships at hingham a Landing Regulars as thick as graflioppers (they
/. e. Sutton & Studly Came only from Cohaffet) they tokl us that the
Cohaffet Company had marchd off for Hingham : M' Grofvenov had
not Began his Excerfife when Sutton Came to the meeting houfe the
people all Rush'd out of the meeting-houfe to hear the news, thus
being allarm'd we all went home and got our guns : we Expected that
Capt Stockbridges Company of Inlifted men & our Company of Min-
ute men under the Command of Lieutenant Pierce would march Ime-
diately over to hingham So Lieutenant Pierce ordered thofe of us that
Lived up this way to Come home and fix ourfelves atul march Down
to Cohaffet and there to join our Company If they were ordered to
march So Daniel and I and Lot and Amos and John Whitcom Came
home and got our guns Catoos boxes knapfacks &c and went Down
to Cohaffet as we \\ent Down acrofl the paflure, the weomen were
Sitting Down upon the Rocks Looking out. we traveled on till v.e
got Down to M"" Jofiah Okes's there we met M'' obadiah Lincoln he
Came Directly from Hingham. he told us that there Avas no men
Landing at Hingham. but they v/ere Landed upon Grape Ifland
aboute 20 or 30 Regulars to be Seen they were Carting hay and
boating it on board two Large Sloops that Lay to Receive it there
was alfo a tender Lay there to gaurd them he told us that the peo-
ple from Waymouth point fired at the Carters as they Avere Driveing
their Carts we hear that there was No men kill'd upon either Side,
when tJie tide floats the Lighters our People fixed out 3 or 4 of 'em cS:
Sail'd towards the Island w[h]ich the Regulars Seeing they Imbark'd,
made Sail and put off as fast as poffible I Saw the Light of a fire in
the Evening till 3/4*'' past Nine oClock I have Since heard that our
people Sat fire to a Large Barn filld with hay Contai[ni]ng 70 or So
tuns of hay

Fifth Generation. 343

aa**: In the afternoon Daniel and I went to M"" Joshua

Clapps agreeable to a warrant Defiring the old Compy of minute men
\v[h]ich Cap' Stockbridge Left [to meet] in order to Chufe ofilcers
:ind form anew but the weather being So dull there was but few
ihat met So we adjournd till next monday.

23"^ I Stuff'd a Saddle and fixed my things In order to Setoul for
Chelierfield tomorrow Morning

A JOURNAL OF A JOURNEY TO CHKSTERKIELD

May 24'^ About 1/2 an hour before Sunrife Amos and 1 Sat out
for Chefterfield the firft Stop that we made was at Browns in milton
there we fed our horses out of our bags & bought 1/2 a mug of VV. I.
lodde £o~2s-o old ten we went from there to Smith's in Wefton
our horfes Eat hay an hour 0:4.0 we Bought half a mug of Weft
India todde there it Coft -us 0-2-6 we Went from there to Sipping
Hows in Marlbro' 12 miles oated & bought 1/2 mug todde 0-2-6
we went from hows to martins in Northbr°. 9 Miles oated & Bought
1/2 a mug of todde 0-2-6 we Stop'^ no more till we put up at Cap'
Curtiss in Worcefler 8 miles from martinss our horfes Coft us 5s 6^
apiece our Lodging 2s apiece milk given in 0-15-0 we got aboute
Seventy miles this Day my mare Scarce Sweat a hair only under
the Saddle Amos his mare Sweat more than mine & he got prety
tired I Rode the great Barren Red mare the Weather Something
iiot &r dry

SECOND DAY OF OUR JOURNEY

25th. We Sat out from Cap' Curtis's in Worcefter aboute an hour
before Sunrife the first Stop that we made was at Whittemores in
Spencer 14 miles from Curtiss to half a mug* of Cyder 0-0-10 we
Stopd at Waites in Brookfield got our Breckfasts of Roaft beef Cost
us 0-9-0 oated our horfes 1/2 mug of Cyder 1-3 we Stopd at
packards in Brooktield fed cur horfes and bought 1/2 mug of Cyder
0-1:3: we Stopd at Rogers in Ware (oated) and got 1/2 mug of
Cyder 0-1-3 ^^ "^^t John Ewell at three o Clock Betwen Rogerss
and Esq Hows in Belchertown we Stop'd and talked with him Some
time . we put up our horfes at Dwights in Belchertown to hay 1/2 an
hour ;^o-2j--6 old ten'' we Bought aboute two thirds of a mug
of Cyder there it Coft us 0-2-1 we Stop'd at Whites Calld in y«=
Almanach Smiths i)i Amherft oated our horfes &: bought 1/2 mug

•^ The diarist adds this footnote: " N : I? : we liad all our Cyder mixd with
^Vater & Sweetned."

344 Lawrence Litchfield atid His Descendants.

Cyder 0-1-3 we Rid from there to goodmans in Hadley there we
put up for Night in good Seafon we Eat a Quart of milk for our
Supper Coft — 0-1-3 horfes — 0-10-0

THIRD DAYS JOURNEY

May 26"' 1775 In the morning the Sun a little heighth mc got Fer-
red over the River Cost for ferrage 0-4-2 we Stopd at the Widdow
Edwards's Aboute 8 oClock in the morning Amos and 1 Bought
Each of us a poringer of Bread and milk 0:2:6 both of us we
Drove our horfes from the foot of boflcams hill till we got to Jacobs
[his brother's] we got there betwixt 9 & 10 oClock : both of our
Expences the whol going up £7) • 4-^ • ^^ o^^ t^" Jacobs Wife was
Very poorly Jacob midling hearty Staid there y^ day the weather

this Journey hath been tolerable comfortable but warm our

whole Expence. for the Journey was £7^ : 5 : 10 old ten

2^th v\^e went to Edmunds Saw him plant thenfe to Benj*
Pierces and back to Jacobs I Lodgd with Edmund [Sylvester] this
Night, A^ [Amos] at Jacobs the weather warm and Dry: Corn
Cheap Viz 2*: Lawful per Bufliel : Butter Six pence per pound : Sugar
Six pence per pound Labour two Shillings per Day ; & other things,
I [s]uppore proportionate

28*'^ Was Sabbath Day: I went to meeting they had no Minefter
Deacon May Went to prayer and Red a Sermon. At Noon I went
to M"" Worners [Elijah Warner's] After meeting at Night I \\'ent
to M'' Jonathan Pierces Staid all Night

29'^ Jonathan Pierce & I Went a viffiting we went to mfs John
Phersons [?] Ichobud Dammans, Jewells mrs Elefabeth Perreys &
Cap* Stcpliefons And back to Pierces to Diner After diner I Went
back to Edmunds and Jacobs : I Lodgd with Jacob Weather Veiy
hot

30th: I Staid at Jacobs all Day and Amos and I Lodgd there Poll
[wife of Pierce] & Jon-"^ Pierce were at Jacobs upon a Viffit

31st I made a Lid for a Chefl; for Jacob.

June I*' I made & put up Some Shelves Jacob Rode my mare
into Hampton *

2^ Jacob and Amos went over to Jon^ Peirces &c a Viffiting 1 fet
M"^ Sarah Ewell and Edmunds wife to Jacobs. &c

3"^ I Carried Edmunds wife over to Mfs Benj-* Bryants Confider
Bryants Jofhua Rogerfis & Malichy Ewells we went to Diner at Ben
Bryants we Eat Salmon Edmund went with us on foot

Prohably Northajnpton.

Fifth Generation. 345

June the 4th Sabbath Day Jacob & amos Went to Meet-
ing I to Amos 5r Caleb Damons.

A JOURNAL OF A JOURNEY FROM CHESTERFIELD TO SCITUATE

June 5*'\ we Sat out from Jacobs Sun aboute 1/2 an hour high
Stop'd at Peirces & both the Baileys Cost us all for ferrege j^o-
5-1-1/2 (mind that Eathflieba was with Amos and I) Stopd at
Whites beer o o-io We Stop'' at Esqu"^ Hows in Belchertown 1/2
mug of Cyder — 0-1-3 We put out our Dorfes to Grafs at Chad-
wicks in Weflern [now Warren] ^0-2-6 We went to Dinner upon
fry'd Veal Coft us 0-13-3 ^^ '^ P'^'^ '^P '^^ Waites in Brookfield
]>odging 6j. Horfe at grafs 0-7-6

SECOND DAYS JOURNEY.

6 We Sat out from ^^'ailes the Sun Some height Am* & I Eat
milk 0-1-3 Stop'd at Sargents in Liefler and oated. Bought 1/2
mug of Cy'^ 0-1-3 Stopd at Martins's in Northbro' 2/3 of a mug
Cyder — 0-1-8 Stopd at Williams's Ditto & oated & bought a mug
of Cyder o-i \o\ We put up at Bents in Sudbury our Lodging &
liorfes Coft 0-14-0

THIRD DAYS JOURNEY.

7^*^ We Sat out from Bents a little After Sunrife we Eat Some
pickels there o. 0-5 We Rode to Cuttings in Waltham Oated &:
bought Jill Cherey 0-1-8 We Stopd at y^ Widdow Kents in Rox-
bury oated went to Diner 0-18-0 We Stop'd at Brown's oated &:
bought mug beer o-o-io We Stopd at Brackets oated &: got mug
Cyder 0-2-6 here we Spent the Last of the oats that we brought
with us from Chefterfield We Sat out with about 19 or 2[o] Quarts
from Jacobs for both hor[ses] We Cou'^ not get grafs Neither here
Nor at Kents We Stopd at Whitmarfh's Oated our horfes 0-2-6
We Bought a Jill of Snake Root 0-2-0 We Stopd No more till We
got home Wliich was Sometime before Sundown Something tired of
our Journey the whol Cofl of all of us 4-3-8

8'h I Did ,10 grait Deal of Work this Day our folks began to
Weed the Corn :

9^*" : I helpd weed Corn in the field by the Barn Ephraim [Litch-
field, Family No. 74] workd with us he work'd with them Yefterday

10*'' I helpd them hoe in the field by the barn we finiflid weeding
il the New field upon the Ifland is most all Eat up with the worms [?]

346 Lawrence Litchfield and LJis Descendants.

June the 11 this Day being Sabbath Day I went to meet-
ing the text was in Eclefiastes the g"" Chapter from y*^ 14"' to y'^ iS'''
Yerfe

12*'' I help'd James & Daniel Iloe in their field by Whitcoms iioed
1/2 of it

13''^ we finifhd Hoeing the Jonne field in the forenoon. — In the
afternoon Daniel c't I went Down to Cohaffet their old Milit>' [mili-
tia] met &:c

14'*' I began to make a thing to grind Raizors Daniel Shoeinade

15*'' I workd upon the Same: I>afl Saturday night Uncle John
Came here from Cambridge

1 6*"^ I wrought upon my turning Wheel.

\June'] TJ [j'/zS] '• I got out fellows for my wheel : We heard an
uncommon fireing to wards Bofton Allday in the afternoon they
fired without much Ceafation we Saw a great Smoke Arife toward
Boflon.

18**^ was Sabbath day I went to meeting M'' Grofvenor preacli''
he took his tixt in the i6«i^ Chapter of S' John the 21^' Verfe .....
M"" Grofvenor Baptized a Child of his Elefebeth

19**^ I made a Couple of Cartrige Boxes for Cap' Stockbridge and
Did Some other work Daniel put up a Spout at his houfe We liear
that there was a battle between CoP or Ge?i' Puttianis Men and i/ie
Regulars Last Saturday \^Jujie ly] in C/iarlestown. our people had
began an Intrenchment upon Charlestown hill which the Regulars
beat them out of and hold it we Lost of our men 150 or 200 killd
and Wounded of w[h]ich aboute 25 were taken prifners & Cr rried
into bofton : According to the Beft Intilligence that we Can git the
Regulars Lost a 1000 men killd and Wounded among w[h]ich were
many ofhciers

20'^ I wrought upon my Razor grinding gear

21** James, my Self Lot &: Amos went Down to the harbour to
Se[e] Capt Stockbridge Lot and I got Each of us a Coat and a pair
of breeches Cut out of Blue Cloath M"": Eliflia Lappum Cut tlieni
We paid liim twenty Shillings old ten [or]

23*^ I wrought upon my turning gear for Raizors &:c. Daniel

Began to mow in the Burns field Lot and father began to hr/if-

hiU

24*'' In the forenoon Daniel & I mowd in the burns field and upper
field In the Afternoon I Wrought in the houfe

June the 25*'' Sabbath day I went to meeting Tlie Rev''

M"" Grofvenor Preach'd He took his text in the forenoon in Job 3S'''

vxix^^CP

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Reduced Fac-simile of Page 44 of the Litchfield Diary.
The last line was a mistake on the part of the Diarist and is omitted on the printed page

Fifth Gencraiio/i: 347

C. 28th V In the afternoon he took for his text the 9th Verfe

of the 23^ Chapter of Deuteronomy

26''* f/ic two Sciiuate Cfl}npanics {jtinder Cap' Samuel Stockln-idge Jr
^ Caf Naih{ Wi'iiJIcnv) marchd off to Koxbury I hear they got to
Browns

2yiii I wrought with James & Daniel in their field a half hilling.

28^'' : 29''' 30 July 1^' Non tenefne memori. What I Did

[Jul}'] 2d Sabbath Day 1 rode the Colt to meeting cSc halterd her
& tied her to M"^ Cudworths Bars She Pulld her Self Down twice or
thrice & Beat two holes in her head iv: Lot Rid her home at Noon
the text in Deut 23"^

[3'^''] there was a meeting upon an adjournment of march meeting :
they Voted to hire 9 men to keep gaurd upon the Coast Chofe a
Comitee to Enlist them under Cap* Noah otis Adjournd the meet-
ing till Next Monday. this Day I made a Gimblet for Lawrence

Litchfield [Family No. i2"i.]

4<'' this Day I made a Saw for my knife and Dulled away y*^ fKins

July the 6 :* Aboute 5 oClock in the morning Lawrence Litchf"*.,
Zepheniah Cudworth, Zadock Daman, and William Studley Sat out
for Roxbury we got to the houfe where Cap' Stockbridges Compariy
Quarters aboute Eleven o Clock Eat our Dinners there, Walkd all
round W'ent into the fort went Down to the Lowergaurd we Saw
the Scars where a great many Balls from the Regulars Breftwork on
ye Neck Bofton we l^odgd in the houfe where Cap* Stockbridge
Quarters

G*** aboute two oClock this mornhig all hands were Calld up and
orderd to be under arms Imediately for they Expected the Regulars
out But they Did not Come : Aboute 7 oClock this morning We Sat
out for Cambridge we Saw General Putnam. : & View'd his fort all
Round Came back to y^ punch Bool tavernf got our Dinners S'* a
piece L I\I \Ye Came Back to the Camps in Roxbury all but Cud-
worth he went to Salem Staid there a while then Sat out home : I
got home aboute 10 in y^ Evening. 1 Came Round by Cohaffet

July the 7*'': I Did No great [work] but Recruit of my

Journey yefler Day the Veffells in the harbour and Cove Were
Stripdt of their Sails and the Sails Carried to Roxbury for to make
tents for the Soldiers.

* This should be dated July the ^th.

\ The Punch Bowl Tavern was a famous hostelry in Brookline, on what is now
\Vashiugton Street, not far from the old Koxbury line. Some of its buildings
^lill remain in a dilapidated state.

i See letter of Jared Battles, page 262.

348 Lawrence Litchfield a?id Jlis Descendants.

8»'> : 1 Did a few Jobbs

9'*^ Was -Sabbath Day I went to meeting the Kevi""^ m'' Grof-
venor preachd he took his text in the first of Peter 2'^ Cliajy 7
Verfe

io*'> I helpd hoe a little in the Stoneheapfield

II*'' Being the Annivcrjary of my birthday: 1 Did no great Deal
of work only Washd Leather Bieeches &c

xtS^ in the Afternoon We went to training at Dea*^ Eliflia James

there was but 20 in Cap* pierce[s] Company Etce they took

toryes on Long Lsland

13*'' I turnd out a Handifli for Mother And Some other Jobbs.

14*'! In the forenoon Daniel tS: I & Lot Reap'd aboute 1/3''

of that field before the Door, in y« af* I helpd them hill Some in y<^
field by the Barn and Went up to Doctor Ephraim Otis's. and bought
4 1/2''^ of Cotton wool i6*: 6'' per pound alfo Bought Some Red
plufli for a Jacket two y^'^^

j^tfi \Ye finiflid hilling hoed Some of fathers field and James &
Daniels Jonne field & got in 51 Sheaves rie

16: Sabbath Day: I went to meeting; the text. Isaiah 58*'', Chap-
ter. 6 Verfe

ly*'' I Ground Bark and Laid away the Leather &:c

iS*'' Daniel, I, Lot, & Francis Reap'd the Rem^ of y'^ field before
the Door & the Winter rie in y^ Kolley field

ig*'' they got in the Rie they alfo got in Some h.iy This Day

our Representitives Chufe Counfillers

July the 20*'' AD. 1775: This Day Was Sot apart for a Day of
Fafijig and prayer throughout all tJie EnglifJi Colonies in North Amer-
ica : The Rev"" M"^ Grofvenor preach'd to us He took his text in

Jonah 3^: 10*'' Aboute 9 oCIock in the morning the Light

houfe* was Set on fire By our Soldiers from Nantasket they Brought
off from the Island Some people Some goods &: one barril of Powder.
Aboute five o Clock there Came Down two or three tenders Suppofed
in order to Land men and Drive our Soldiers off from Nantafket
they fired about an hour Very furiously indeed they Landed no men :
there was None of our People Killd or Wounded Except one young
Pritcharp who had his Leg Broke & another man Slightly Wounded
altho' they fired So fast & thick they were at a Confiderablc Dis*

MANE TOTO TERTIUS

21** Daniel & I & Fran*^ Reapd the orchard piece & got it in there
was 79 Sheaves mow'' & got in Some Barley We hear that our

* On Great Brewster Island. See King's Hand book of Boston Harbor, page
218.

Fifth Geiirraiioti. 349

Packet has got back from England Some Days ago She Sat out to
go to England April 24*'':

22^ \ wrought in the Chamber ground a Raizor for Hezckiah
Daniel & francis Mowd in the Swamp in the Lower pafture

23'' I went to meeting The ReV M"" David Barnes Preached to
us his text in Matthew the 12 Chapter and 12 Verfe

24''' in the forenoon I Did Some Jobbs in the afternoon 1 went
l)(i\vti to the Neck

July the 25''' I Wrought W'ith m^ W" Collier Staid there

all Night.

26 I Reap''' for uncle Collier Staid all Night

27 It raind I Staid at uncle Bills

28 I Reapd for Collier Staid all night

29 I Reapd & bound rie With m'^ Collier Etce

10 Was Sabbath 1 went To meeting the Rev M"" John Brown of
Cohaffet preachd in the fore" he took his text in the Epistles to the

romans the 8 Chapter from the 35 to 39 Verfe Sang 5 times

in the afternoon 29*'' Psalm 7 Ve[r]fe

3i*t I wrought with M"" William Collier a Reaping rie

Auguft the i^' this morning Colliers boys and I went out a filhing
we Caught None we got in from fiflung the Sun aboute two hours
high and I helpd the boys take up rie the Refl of the forenoon in
the afternoon I Came home : Lothrops [Family No. 63] Wife Brought
to bed with a boy

2'' : I helpe'' Mow in the Swamp by the tanhoufe and git in 3 Eoads

3'^ I Curried off a Sheepskin they finiflid giting in the fiefli hay
Etce

4''' r)aniel & I made a pair of Kidskin pumps for Amos and a
pair of Sheepskin ones for me. J low long they will wear I Don't
Know

S'*" Lot & francis Went a Lobflering I went Down to M"^ Doans
and Bought a Vife of him I gave two Dollers for it Alfo went
Down to Cohaffet and bought a Coars grimllone [grindstone] of Mt
Cudnng Kilby price 5s lod

6 Was Sabbath Day I went to meeting text [in] Job

7'-' I hung my Raizor gring Stone [grindstone]

8 Daniel John Elmes & Elijah Stodder Went to Roxbury I Went
i!p to Landlord foflers and agreed to make 20 pair of Shoes for the
Soldiers

9 1 ground two or three Raizors Daniel got home from R[oxbury]
io I Jobbd aboute the mended they Cart B[ody]

350 iMWrrncc Lifchfirld and His Dtsrendnnts.

1 1 We Sat up the Cyder mill I Wrought Some on Clock
work

12*'" 1 wrought in C'lock work this afternoon we had a fine

Showr the Lightning Split a tree to peices in the pasture before the
door but Little ways from hollowells &:c &c

Auguft the 13^'' Sabbath Day I Went to meeting

the Rcv"^ M"" Baldwin of Hanover Preachd to us he took his text in
the forenoon in Ecleciastes 8^''. C. 8"'. V, in the afternoon he took
his text in Psalms the 84''' or 94''' psalm i2<'\ 13'^ & 141'^ Verfes
Elce Cap' Stockbridgc Very poorly with the bloody flux Daniel
and John Elmes were taken with the Same Disorder this Day or
Lnst night

i4*'i 1 wrought in Clockwork James made 4 or 5 Barrels of Cyder
\ior7i\ Daniel was up here and walkd about Crankly ...... \toni\ went

over to Jameii and got \torT{\ ee of Walnot In the afternoon we
Carted Wood out of \Joni\ Swamp I went Down to Cohaffet [/w;?]
Bought three {torrf^ of Snuff 2^-55-0'^ old ten

[16] I wrought in Clockwork. Daniel and John KImes Kxtream
Sick but Little hope of their Lives

i7t'> In the forenoon I helped git fire w^ood in the afternoon I
wrought in Clock work Daniel Seems Better Doctor there

18^'' 1 Wrought in the Clockinaking bufinefs Daniel Very
Sick

19*'" Lot and I ground Scythes in order to mow in the Salt Meadow
James Could not help us for he was obliged to affifl Itorni at Pratts
for M"" John Pratt Departed this Life this \Jcrn'\ Morning at aboute

two oClock. \i'^>'>'\ L>ar.iel Very Sick indeed the Doctor has

almost given {torri] him o\er I went Down to Cohafset this Day and
bought Some Brandy and Logwood for him Father killd a Lajub
and boild his head and kidneys «S:c

Augufl the 20'^': I ^^'ent to meeting the Rex' ^NI"" \Jorn'\ Grofvenor
preach'd there was a good many folks put notes being Sick With
the Bloody flux Daniel Sent one he Seems no better John Ellme'?
No better, the Text this Day was in Proverbs the 27"> C. 1-' Verfe

there has been Several folks in y'^ parrifh Died the Last week

of the bloody iiux 'Jo wit the Wife of M"" Eli Curtis Buried Last

week Cap* James Turners Wife \\{{orti\ Now Lays unburied, a

Child of Jofliua Otiss Jun \toni\ [bujried this afternoon and two of
Elifha Litchfields C[/w«]en both buried this afternoon one of them
a boy n[/w7/]d Infign the other a girl Named Charlotte [sec Family
No. 72.]

Fijth Generation. 351

2 1*': James my Self, Lot & francies mowd in the Hubbe meaddow
l>Aniel Seems to be Verj' Low and Weak

22^ James, my Self, Lot Francis and Daniel Cerlow Mowd on the
I hibbc Meadow the Weather Very hot Daniel Very Sick

23'' James I and Lot mowd on the Hubbe Meadow We finifhd It
!>nniel Seems a little better John Elmes is Very Sick.

24''' Lot and I mowd the Strip by the beach Father & Fran^
uaked on the llubbe meaddow.

25*'' : James and I made Cyder for him this is the Second time
I'ather and the Bo3'S Raked on the Hubbe meadow We are in hopes
Uiat Daniel Is a growing Better John Elmes they Don't Call any

I 'Otter there is but little hopes of his Ever going abroad again.

juhns Wife is Sick with this Same Disorder th° not Extream bad
Daniels Wife and Youngest Child Namely Azotus are poorely; with
i!ie Same Disorder ..... Capt. Noah Otis Loft a Child, it Died
With the Above S^ Diforder this Week \toni\

This is the last entry in the Diary of which there remains
enough to make any connected or logical abstract. There are
iK.Ttions of eight more pages of manuscript too incomplete for
printing.

Dea. Israel Litchfield was elected March 17, 1777, to the
br-ard of selectmen w^ith Elisha Tolman and Increase Clap, when
he was not quite twenty-four years of age, and he was re-elected
!ii March, 1778, but was excused from serving. In October,
1778, he was allowed ^,"5, \os. for services as selectman and
;'.ssessor. In March, 1779, he was moderator of the town meet-
itig, and again in March, 1784. In March, 1788, he was elected
as one of the surveyors of highw'ays, which office he also held in
:;oo, 1796, 1797, 1 801. In October, 1795, he was elected a
j-chool-committeeman, and again in April, 1799, 1801, 1806,
iSoS, 1809, 1810, 181 1, 1812, 1813, 1820. On Nov. 23, 1795,
he serv'ed as town clerk /;y; tnn. In May, 1796, he was drawn
as grand juror, and again in March, 1805 ; in Sept., 1815, as
traverse juror. In March, 1799, he was chosen a hog-reeve, and
•,-:a;n in March, 18 14. In March, i8ji, he was chosen field-
•'\cr. lie served as a soldier in the Revolution, as shovv-n by
'US Diary and the records at the State House, Boston (see Ap-
l>cndix).

35 2 Lawiciue Litchfield and His Descauiants.

ABSTRACTS FROM SCITUATE TOWN RECORDS.

Oct. 14, 1776. A town meeting was called "in order to know tht:
mind of the Town whether they will Comply with the orders of the
General Court In forming a Constitution for this State or act or do
anytliing Else — also s'' Town Voted to Chuse a Committee to
Draught a Vote to lay before this meeting & Voted to Chuse Elisha
Tolman, Nath" Waterman, Increase Clap, Barnabas Little, Israel Sil-
vester, Daniel Damon, Israel Litchfield, Klisha James & Dea. Joseph
Baily. — s*^ Town Voted to Receive y^ Keport of y« Com''*-'-' which is
as follows. —

" Agreeable to a Refolve of the General Court s'^ Town Voted that
they give their Consent that the Present House of Representatives of
the State of y^ Mafsachufets bay. Together with the Counsel if they
Consent in one body with the House and by Equal Voice, Should
Prepare and agree on Such a Constitution & form of Government for
this State as the House & Counsel afores^ on the fullest and most
Mature Deliberation Shall Judge will Most Conduce to the Safety
Peace & Happinefs of this State ; and then to be submitted to the
People at Large for their Ratification and Promulgation ; or Disr.p-
probation."

March 17, 1777. Eleazer Litchfield, Israel Litchfield and Josiah
Litchfield, Jr., were on the committee of " Correspondence, Inspec-
tion <!vr Safety." (Families Nos. 32, 60 and 27.) Israel Avas elected
again to this committee, March, 1778, 1779 and 1780.

June, 1777. On committee to revise "Jury Box."

Sept., 1777. On committee with Israel Turner and Eleazer Litch-
field to procure money for raising the town's quota of soldiers.

Apr. 17, 1787. "Said Town then made Choice of Dec" Israel
Litchfield to be a Committee to Inquire in to the curcomftances of a
Certain Sum of money which is in the hands of Larance Litchfield :
which wafe the Property of one Samuel Sprague, and to Report to
the Town at may meeting Next." There is no record of such a re
port, in the May meeting,

Oct. 31, 1791. On committee to notify inhabitants of the diflerent
town districts about "setting up schools therein,"

Oct., 1792. On committee for apportionment of school money
among the school disfricts.

Dec, 1792. Small pox broke out in Scituate, this winter, and there
was much discussion in town meetings regarding inoculation and the
.sequestering of those who were sick. There was quite an element

? 1 k'-^

.=*^ ^_

K'^>:r-,

rff'-r^'^.i^irwNi^THilii'aiari

Fifth Generation. 353

favorable towards having a hospital for them. On Dec. 31st, Capt.
Jesse Dunbar and Malachi Menitt were secured to superintend such
a hospital, at seven shillings per day, they to find their own provis-
ions. The temporary hospital was located at Benjamin James's.
Strict regulations were made. Among the homes invaded by this
dread 'disease were those of Jonathan Hatch, Jr., John Bray, and
Widow Nichols. Eleven deaths from small-pox are recorded in the
First Church records as having occurred in 1792-3. In j 793, the
hospital was at Stephen Wade's. In Oct., 1793, the sum allowed
Capt. Dunbar and Malachi Merritt, each, was £(i\(is\ od. In June,
1793, Dea. Israel Litchfield and Lawrence (" Larance ") Litchfield
were on a committee about getting a hospital for this plague, and
make the regulations regarding patients, etc., — a kind of "board of
health."

May, 1795. On committee to inquire into the case of Bathsheba
Southworth, a pauper.

Oct., 1795. On committee on school districting and division of
school money.

March, 1796. On committee for support of poor.

Sept., 1799. On committee pertaining to matters of North River
bridge; and on committee to compensate soldiers for extraordinary
military duty, Oct. 7 and 8, 1799.

Oct. 3, 1803. "Voted that Klisha Foster, Enoch Collamore,
'J'homas Cushing, Israel Litchfield & William Vinal be a Committee
to Conlider what allowance is proper to be made to thofe perfons who
is \sic'\ oblige[d] to attend the training & do attend Said Traini[n]g
at Hallafax [Halifax, Mass.]." It was voted io allow each man $2.00,
and that the majority vote of the men going to Halifax should deter-
mine how the money should be spent. In the records of town meet-
ings in April and May, 1804, it is learned that sums were allowed
to the companies connnanded by Captains Elijah Barstow, Ebenezer
Bailey, Benjamin T. Lane, Nathaniel Turner and Abiel Farrow,
which show that over 200 men went to training at Halifax, Oct. 11,
1803.

May 12, 1S06. "Voted that thay Wold oppofe the Petition of
Israel Litchfield and others, Relative to the Gulph Streem allwife

fishery &c " Afterwards the town reconsidered this vote, but

the final disposal of the petition is unknown.

Nov. 7, 1808. '-Said Town then Voted that thay wold oppofe the
petition of Dec" Israel Litchfield & others, Relative to laying out a
highway from the School lioufe Near Bardin Hilands, & pafsing by

354 Lawrence Litchfield and Lfis Descendants.

the Houfe of Elexander Clap, & James Litchfield, & So on Northerly
to the patent Line." On Oct, 2, 1809, it is recorded that Elijah Tur-
ner, Esq., was appointed an Agent of the town to appear in its behalf
at the court of Common Pleas, at Plymouth, to answer to the petition
of Daniel Litchfield & others, for the above road. It was also voted,
" That Lawrence Litchfield, Paul Merritt, John Collaniore & Ebene-
zar Bailey together with the Selectmen, be a Committee to examine
the way prayed for by Daniel Litchfield and others, and give the
agent such Instructions relative thereto, as to them shall seem proper."
This road, called " Litchfield Road," on the town records, was
granted, for on Nov. 12, 1812, there is record of the following allow-
ances to abutters : Alexander Clapp, $75.00 ; Israel Litchfield, $10.00 ;
James Litchfield, $151.00; Cornelius Bates, $54.00; and William
Whitcomb, $30.00. This is probably the street from Clapp's Corner
to the Beachwpods.

May 13, 1813. Dea. Israel Litchfield's "tan house" is mentioned
on the records as having formerly stood on Mount Hope road.

Apr. 6, 18 18. Israel Litchfield, Liba Litchfield and Paul Merritt
on a committee " to inquire into the Beach woods lane and report at
a futer meeting." On Apr. 5, 1819, it was 7/i;/t'^ " that Israel Litch-
field, Augustus Clapp & John Collamore be a Committee to make
particular exemination into the circumstances of the Beach Woods
lane as respects the use of it heretofore, and what is best to be done
with it in future and report at May Meeting." The solution of this
matter is found in the abstracts from town meeting records in Family
No. 57, page 286, under date of May 3, and Nov. 22, 181 9.

April I, 1822. The Selectman, with Israel Litchfield, John Colla-
more and Jesse Dunbar, on commitiee '• to view the way that is re-
quested to be laid out from the causeway leading to farm Neck to the
bridge near the Gulph mill," and make report. This is probably the
" Neck road " to Cohasset.

March, 1823. On committee to see about bad roads in Scituate.

Nov. 6, 1826. " Voted to accept the following Report — The Com-
mittee chosen to let long lane, and to settle with Deacon Israel Litch-
field the fopmer agent, have attended that .service and report that
Deacon Litchfield has received the hire of Long Lane for the years
1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, & 1823, amounting to Ten Dollars, as appears
by said Litchfields receipts in the hands of M"" Whitcom the person
hiring. — That there is due from said Whitcom for hire of the same
for 1824, 1825, & 1826 Seven Dollars Fifty Cents. — They ■ fur-
ther report that Deacon Litchfield declines paying the above men-

Fifth Gmcratioti. 355

tinned sum received by him as agent of the Town, afligning as a
: ,;',s'')v. ihc insufficicntcy of Ins allowance for services as Selectman
\c. for the year one Thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy Seven —
Scituate Nov"" 6"' 1826 John B. Turner, per order." It was voted
that the Selectmen settle with Dea. Israel and allow him a reasonable
compensation for his early service to the town.

May 3, 1830. "Voted That the Selectmen be a Committee to
view the road between Benjamin Briggs' and Dea". Israel Litchfield's,
and make such repairs as they may think neceffary." This is the
last mention on the town business records of Scituate of Israel^ Litch-
field. See abstracts on pages 284 and 286.

His )iame appears in Scituate in 1808, on a list of voters pre-
scr\'ed at the South Scituate Savings Bank, Norwell, Mass.

The mcst important public service of Israels Litchfield was
tliat of Representative fo the General Court at Boston, having
been elected to that ofifice by his fellow-citizens, in Scituate, on
May 18, 1778 (town records) when only in his twenty-fifth year.
See Deane's Scituate, page 107. This session of the General
Court convened on Wednesday, May 27, 1778, and an examina-
tion of the records, or "Journal of the Honorable Houfc of Rep-
resentatives of the State of Massachusetts-l^ay," reveals a few
interesting data. Among his fellow-representatives were : George
Partridge, Esq., of Duxbury, the eminent founder of Partridge
Academy ; Capt. Thomas Waterman, of Marshficld, and Enoch
Lincoln and Joseph Thaxter, Jr., of Hingham. He is entered
as "Mr." Israel Litchfield. The ses.sion was dissolved May 3,
1779-

Oct. 15, 1778. " Onkretf, That Mr [Ellis] Gray [of Boston], Capl.
[ K'.bcnezer] Wales [of Dorchester] and Mr [Israel] Litchfield be a
("ommittee to confider what Sum is proper to be paid to the Commit-
tee for fupplying the Army with fmall Stores." Also, " The House
pals'd a Refolve for paying the Committee for fupplying the Army
with fmall Stores the Sum of Twelve Thou/and Pounds, to enable them
tr> execute the Bufinefs committed to them. Sent up for Concur-
lence."

i'Vb. 12, 1779. 'I'he "petition of Allen Hallet, Commander of the
'>ri-;antine I'yranicide, praying that the Board of War may be directed
to fupply his Men with certain Articles of Cloathing,'" committed to

3S6 Laivrencc Liichfeld and His Descendants.

Capt. Stephen Dana of Cambridge, Daniel Whitney, Esq., of Sher-
burne, and Mr. Israel Litchfield.

Feb. 13, 1779. ^ "Petition of David Stebbins of Deerfield. fet-
ting forth that he was in the public Service, gaurding Prifoners at
Brookficld, he was taken Tick, and has been at confiderable Expence,
and praying allowance for the same," was committed to Mr. Israel
Litchfield, Dr. Joseph Moffat of Brimfield, and a Mr. Mun, not lo-
cated.

Feb. 17, 1779. A " Petition of Willis Hall, nnd Sarah his Wife,
who was one of the Daughters and Co-Heirs of George Holmes, late
of Boston, Diftiller, deceas'd, praying for Reafons offered that the
Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk may be impowered to
grant Letters of Adminiflration on faid Holmes's Eftate." Read and
committed to "Mr: Litchfield, Mr. \^John'\ Hancock [of Boston] and
Major [John] Nelson [of Middleborough]."

Israel^ Litchfield was admitted to the communion of the First
Church (see records), July 23, 1776. Under date of June 15,
1788, there is an entry of admission to communion of a "Sarah
Litchfield," who is probably identical with Sarah, his first wife.
' The record of baptisms of the children of Deacon Israel Litch-
field has not appeared. This seems strange in view of the fact
of his active ecclesiastical devotion. The First Church records
are, however, incomplete at the close of the eighteenth century.

In the records of the North Precinct, First Parish, Scituate,
there are numerous references to the services of Israel^ Litch-
field. In 1780, 1782, and 1784, he was on a committee to pro-
cure preachers and see about other society matters, and at vari-
ous times he was active in precinct affairs. In March, 1783, he
served as moderator, and it was voted "to alow De^^ Ifrael Litch-
field for Bording Mr Meril [a minister or candidate] and keeping
his horse one week — £,\, o, o." On Sept. i, 1784, the pre-
cinct voted to sell its ""Parsonage lands," and Dea. Samuel Jen-
kins, Dea. Israel Litchfield and Barnabas Little were appointed
a committee to investigate. This vote was confirmed in March,
1785, and at this latter meeting, it was akso voted "to allow
to Isreal Litchfield for going after Mr Whitman [another
preacher] — £2, y, 3c/." In March, 1786, "for going after

Fifth GriicrotioTK 357

Mr [Adoniram] Judson — \Zs. March 15, 1786, Rev. Zecha-
riah Howard received a call to become the pastor of the First
Church, but this he declined. Dea. Israel Litchfield, Calvin
Peirce and Barnabas Little were the committee to notify him of
this call. In 17H7, 1788, 1790, 1791, I793, and other years,
Dea. Israel was an auditor of the precinct treasurer's accounts.
In July, 1787 (see First Church Records, also), he was on a
committee to wait on Rev. Ebenezer Dawes, and, with Lieut.
Lawrence Litchfield, Israel Vinal, Esq., Barnabas Little and
Augustus Clap, to view the parsonage buildings and fences to
see what repairs were needed. Ht; served as assessor in the
precinct several years. In 1801, he was precinct clerk, and re-
ceived one dollar for his services. In March, 1802, he was on a
committee to confer with Rev. Nehemiah Thomas concerning his
salary. He served on committees for repairs and improvements
in the church edifice, regarding precinct property, assessments,
and other matters, including the purchase of a bell, in 18 14, and
singing in 181 7-1 8.

There is very little mention of his name after 1826. He gave
his note several times to cover what he owed or had promised to
pay to the First Precinct in the matter of taxes or levies, but in
1826, he settled his account, thus disconnecting himself legally
from taxation b)' the First Church. Hereafter he contributed
to the financial support of the new Congregational parish.

Under date of Oct. 8, 1792, it is recorded on Rev, Nehemiah
Thomas's Book of the P'irst Church, that Deacon Litchfield,
Israel Vinal and Hayward Peirce were the committee appointed
to invite the churches to assist in the ordination of Rev. Mr.
Thomas, which occurred Nov. 14, 1792.

Israels Litchfield was connected with the P'irst Church of Scit-
uate as Deacon, from 1779 until the division* in the parish over
the acceptance or rejection of Unitarian views, which caused
several to establish the Trinitarian Congiegational Church in

* See a pamphlet entitled, " A Second Series of Letters concerning the His-
tory of the First Parish in Scituate," published in 1845, by James Munroe & Co.,
Boston, of which the compiler owns a copy, and another is in the library of tiie
N. E. Hist. Gen. Society.

358 Lawrence Litchfield and LLis Dcscendanfs.

Scituate in 1824-25. Both parishes are still in active work, in
<:^ood church edifices situated at Scituate Centre, not far apart.

First Church Records : "At a Meeting duly warn'd : May 31,
1779. The brethren being called uj)on to bring in their Votes
for Deacons, Ifrael Vinal, Efq : Daniel Jenkins and Ifrael Litch-
field, were chofcn ; they accepted and took the Deacons Seat,
July. II. 1779."

In the Hst of members given in the " Church Manual of the
First Trinitarian Congi'egational Church, Scituate," is found :
" Dea. Israel Litchfield, admitted in July, 1776, chosen deacon
in 1778 \sic'\\ died Jan. 15, 1840."

Hurd's History of Plyvtout/i Coimty, in sketch of Scituate,
.says that Israel Litchfield was one of the first twelve members
of the Scituate Congregational Church who called Rev. Paul
Jewett to be its pastor in 1826, that he was deacon at the time,
and continued in that office for the rest of his life. Deane's
History of Scituate, page 58, says : "We may mention amongst
the principal founders of this [First Trinitarian] Society, Messrs.
Ward Litchfield [Family No. loi], Rowland Litchfield [Family
No. 102], Deacon Israel Litchfield, Calvin Jenkins, Sen. and Jr.,
[Family 100], Levi Vinal and Charles Curtis [Family 108]."

The records of the Trinitarian Congregational Church, at
Scituate Centre, Mass., begin on Nov. 20, 1824. From these
records, furnished in abstra:t by the Clerk,* we learn that there
were many meetings held before the final separation or division
of the two pari.shes. It is not the purpose of the compiler to
enter into the discussion of this matter which was a cause of
much bitter feeling for many years. Deacon Israel and 6ther
Litchfields (who will be mentioned again in later accounts) w^ere
active in the deliberations and sided with the Trinitarians. The
deacon was moderator of meetings held Feb. 14, March 4, and
April 9, 1825, and on Nov. 3, 1826, when it was ''Voted, unani-
mously to give the Rev. Paul Jewett a Call to become our Pastor
& to settle with us in the gospel ministry." At this last meet-
ing, it was " Voted that Dea. Israel Litchfield & Bro. Eleazar

*In 1906, Mrs. Julia E. Fitts, Greenbush, Ma-ss.

Fifi?i Generation. 359

Peakes be a committee to inform the Society of the doings of
this Cjiurch &' request their concurrence in above call." At the
first three of these meetings it is stated in the records that the
deacon was chosen moderator because of the absence of Rev.
Mr. Thomas. On March 4th, it was "■ Voted that Dea. Israel
Litchfield, Calvin Jenkins & Augustus Cole be a committee to
acquaint Ivev. Mr. Thomas with the doings of the Church and
request him to record the same on the Church Book." On
April 10, 1825, Dea. Israel was chosen with Ward Litchfield
and Calvin Jenkins to send "letters missive " to several churches
which were invited to a " Mutual Council to attend to the diffi-
culties in this church," and on April 25th, it was voted that this
same committee " be a committee to appear before the venera-
ble council in behalf of the church," and said Council meeting
was held on April 27th, at the house of " Roland " Litchfield.
From the deliberations and decision of this Council, it was voted
on April 29, 1825, "that it is expedient & proper that the rela-
tions subsisting between this church & their present Pastor be
dissolved, a majority of the male members of this church concur-
ring in this vote." On Nov. 13, 1 83 1, "Sophia Litchfield daugh-
ter of Dea. Israel, was admitted to the full communion of this
church." The records also give the dates of the choice of Israel*
as Deacon, of his church admission, and of his death, and are as
before given in the Church Manual.

It is said that Deacoji Israel Litchfield and Sarah Bailey
(widow of Abner) were the proudest people in Scituate. The
daughter of the one, Serissa,^ and the son of the other, Rowland
Bailey, married (see P"'amily No. 224). Deacon Israel was of a
mathematical turn of mind, philosophical and sober. A story of
how a million chickens would extend from Scituate to Worcester
is repeated by his descendants. He was quite tall, and attrac-
tive in his personality. Strictly temperate himself, in his mature
years he was an advocate of temperance at public meetings
where he was gladly heard, for he was an effective speaker on
account of his appropriate stories, quaint comments, and witti-
cisms. He was fond of music, sang well, and indulged in writ-
ing verse. The following stories were told to the compiler by

360 Lawrence LUchfield and His Vescendants.

the late William Hubbard' Litchfield of North Scituate. At
onetime Deacon Israel had lost some sheep, and so he composed
the following which appeared on guide-posts and in other public
places :

One large poll ram,

A long-tailed lamb,
And a pair of twins. Sir, mind tliem,

For each of their ears,

Like swallow-tails appears,
Now, please tell me where 1 can find them.

Lewis Brown, brother of " Uncle " John Brown, lately de-
ceased in Scituate, lived at Deacon Litchfield's, when a boy.
The Deacon was nuite inventive and was trying to impart some
of his knowledge to Lewis, but the boy was uneasy and kept
bobbing the candle around in his hand, while being shown how
to do something. " Mind what you are doing," came the repri-
mand from Mr. Litchfield. The boy replied that he did not
care anything about what he was trying to tell hini. Then the
Deacon retorted characteristically :

He that thinks himself already wise
Of course, all future learning will despise,
But save for this how many might have been
Just, wise, and reputable men.

At one time, he said that the only thing that he could not
make in a "bumblebee," was the sting.

The following poetical effusions show the deep moral and re-
ligious feelings of their author, as well as his strictly orthodo.x
belief.

I.INES* ox THE MELANCHOLY EFFECTS OF THE LATE GALE.

On the twenty-third day of September,

In the year eighteen hundred fifteen
Perhaps there are few can remember

So heavy a gale to have been.
The morning was cloudy and windy.

Blowing, what may be call'd a fresh brecT^e,

*N. Coverly, Jr., Printer, Milk Street., lio.'^ton.

Fifth Generation. 36 1

But we apprehended no danger,

By the falling of buildings or trees.
At about eight o'clock in the morning,

The wind was not far from south-east,
It hauled by degrees to the southward,

And every moment increased.
Before the sun reached the meridian,

The trees and the fences fell last,
Trees rooted too strong to be started,

Were broke by the force of the blast.
Some twisted and shatter'd to pieces,

Were forcibly thrown to the ground,
Large branches and limbs in confusion,

Were scatter'd extensively round.
Fine forests were swept to destruction,

Laid prostrate before the fierce gale,
Rich orchard* o'erthrown or much injur'd,

I3estruction did greatly prevail.
Some buildings were crush'd by the tempest,

And others were greatly annoy 'd.
Some small ones were turn'd bottom upwards,

And thousands of roofs were destroy'd.
'J"he tops of the chimnies were broken,

And thunder'd down thro' the floors,
Astonish'd some fled from their houses,

Escaping for life out of doors I
The windows burst into the houses,

How many no mortal can say.
The sick were in imminent danger,

Of instant destruction that day.
The .scene was distressing at Boston,

But wonderful 'tis to relate,
We don't hear of many much injur'd

By either the bricks or the slate,
Blown off from the roofs and the chimneys,

With violent force to the ground ;
The people kept close in their houses,

A traveller scarce could be found.
The shipping that lay in harbour,

Was damaged greatly we hear,
Some sunk at the wharves witli their cargo.

Bold seamen were filled with fear.
At Taunton 'twas greatly surprising.

To see how the river did rise,
The bridge was materially damag'd,

'J" he flood seemed to threaten the skies.

3^2 Lawrence Litchfield end LLis TJescendanls.

From Newport we have information

That several persons were drown'd,
O'erwhehn'd and swept off by tlie water,

No more with their friends to he found;
Some buildings were part fill'd with water.

The goods of the merchants in store
At Providence suffcr'd great damage,

The shipping was drove on the shore.
Tlie water rose tAvo or three fathoms,

Above any common high tide,
And buildings o'erthrown by the tempest.

Were seen on the waters to ride.
Some persons of handsome possessions,

With plenty of treasures in store,
Before the sun past the meridian,

Were render'd both wretched and poor.
- Some people suppos'd the salt water

And air were in some measure mix'd,
'Tis said that some miles from the ocean.

That salt on the window was fix'd.
Young Gushing* of Hingham was wounded,

l\y boards quickly thrown by the gale.
He languish'd awhile and expir'd,
, No surgical skill could avail,
To cure him of wounds that were fatal.

O ! what must his relatives feel,
To see him lie gasping and dying,

Of wounds that no surgeon could heal.
Let those who have suffer'd affliction

Of late, by the elements' strife,
Remember events are all govern'd

By Him who has given us life.
Submit without lisping a munnur,

Be grateful for good that remains,
Walk humbly, deal justly, love niercv,

Rejoice that the Deity reigns.
Let those who have not suffer'd damage.

By the elements' furious rage.
Remember who governs in wisdom

And goodness through e\ ery age.
And praise Him for their preservation

From damage, destruction and death,
Rejoice that on Mim we're de])endent

For every blessing and breath.

* 'lliis was IJo,-.ea Cushiiig, born Aug 15, 1792, "ki)lL-d by a board in the hut
cane of 25 Sept., 1S15." His(. JUiigham, vol. ii: p. i6i>.

Fifth Gtneraliou. 363

Pursue your studies earnestly in youth,

And treasure up a store of solid truth ;

Use every help that comes within your reach,

Listen with care, to that which good men teach.

Bc-lieve not every thing that some may tell,
Kememl)cr trutli, 'tis said, lies in a well.
Observe good manners, — honesty in dealings, —
O ne'er, without excuse, wound others' feelings.
Keep yourself master of usurping passions,
Strive to avoid all vain and foolish fashions.

Mildness and meekness make a man respected;
Envy and pride will make a man neglected.
Receive instruction — come from whom it may,
Regard the Scriptures, — search them everj' day;
In searching them, great treasure you will find.
That pearl of price, that satisfies the mind.
That faith, and hope, and charity most kind.

ACROSTICf.

Should God preserve j-our life and grant you health
And friends and competence or even wealth,
Remember health and friends may .soon depart,
And sore affiiction penetrate your heart,
Hear good advice and steer by wisdom's chart.

Mind and remember you were born to die,
inquire the way that leads to joys on high,
Never forget the judgment day will come,
O I what a solemn tliought your final doom !
'Tis fit that in your heart you give it room !

Believe the Bible is God's holy word
And teaches plainly how to serve the Lord,
Informs you where the saints forever dwell.
Let gratitude your humble bosom swell.
Exercise faith in Christ the Lord above.
Yield your whole heart to Him, a heart of love.

* "An Acrostic for Paul iJiooks Merritl, coni'posed by his grandfather, Israel
Litchfield, in his Sist year." The original was contributed by Miss Ell.^. Farmer.
It v/as printed op yellow paper. Another copy of this acrostic, printed on white
satin, is preserved with the original Diary of Dea. Israel Litchfield, at 18 Somer-
set St., Boston.

■t " A grandfather's gift to his little grandchild [Sarah Minot Bailey],, cbmposed
by Dea. Isra<;l Litchfield. Scituate, February 9tli, 1829."-

3^4 Lmvrcnce Litchfield and His Dcscaidants.

ACROSTIC*

Search carefully the Bible ev'ry day,
Earnestly strive to find out wisdom's way.
Read it as 'tis indeed, the word of truth,
Imbibe its precepts in the days of youth,
So with God's blessing it may make you wise,
Sliow 3-ou the way that leads above the skies,
And life eternal be your glorious prize.

Remember wisdom's ways are pleasant ways,
Escape the snares that Satan for you lays,
Envy not sinners, seek their reformation,
Dread their example, pray for their salvation.

Deeds of the transfer of land, biiilding-.s, and other property,
to and from Israel^ Litchfield, are foimd recorded in large num-
ber at the registries of Plymouth and Norfolk counties, and to
give a full account of all of these would occupy too mucli space.
Several of his deeds, as grantor, will be found in the accounts of
several families in this Genealogy. His name appears very often
as a witness to signatures of Scituate deeds. The compiler has
made the following abstracts from deeds, which give some gen-
ealogical or local interest.

The " Liba Litchfield Collection " f has the original deed of
Israel Litchfield (signed, also, by Sarah Litchfield), of Scituate,
yeoman, to Daniel LitchfiMd, Scituate, gentleman, for £,\2^ of
" a piece of fresh rneadow land being in Scituate near mast hill
bridge so called, containing about Fifty rods of land more or less
bounded Southerly by the highway, Westerly & Northerly by
land belonging to Daniel Litchfield & Easterly by land belong-
ing to James Litchfield ; Also another piece of land laying at

*" Composed by Dea. I.srael Litchfield, for his granddaughter, Serissa Reed."
These last two Acrostics were sent to tlie compiler by Sarah M. Bailey.

t Another paper in this collection a'ppsars to be the incompleted or rejected
agreement of partidon between Jacob Wade of Waldoborough, Lincoln Co. (now
in Maine), yeoman, on one part, and Simeon Wade and Joseph Wade, boili of
Boston, housewrights, Jotham Wade, yeoman, George Wade, tailor, both of Scit-
uate, of the other part, of land in Scituate. Dated, June 26, 1792. This paper
was signed by Jacob, Jotham and George, but not by the other Wades. Israel
Vinal and Israel Litc'ufield were witnesses. Acknowledgment, however, was
made before Israel Vinal, J. P., on June 27th.

Fifth Gnuralidii. 365

ihe Northerly end of the above said meadow, containing about
One acre & one quarter more or less, bounded Northerly &
Southerly by land belonging to Isaac Litchfield, & Easterly by
land belonging to James Litchfield, aforesaid." Dated, Jan. 25,
1794. [Plymouth Co. Deeds, vol.lxxvi : p. 78.] The witnesses
were Caleb and Daniel Newell.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY DEEDS.

Apr. 27, 1792. Zealous (and wife, Abigail) Bates of Cohasset,
trader, for ^^50, to Israel Litchfield, 9 A. land in Scituate, abutted by
Capt. Daniel Litchfield, Lothrop Litchfield, and heirs of Barnabas
J.itchfield, deceased. Witnesses: Thomas Lothrop, Ambros Bates,
Levi Bates, and Joshua Bates, Jr. [Vol. Ixxvii : p. 256.]

Jan. 20, 1794. Levi Newell (and Ruih, his wife), James Newell
(and Ehzabeth, his wife) and Joshua Newell, all of Scituate. yeomen,
for £^2, to Israel Litchfield, 8 A. Scituate land near dwelling house
of Elizabeth Litchfield [widow of James, Family No. 62]. \^Ttnesses :
Caleb and Daniel Newell. [Vol. Ixxvi: p. 269.]

Sept. 4, 1794. Israel (and wife, Sarah) I^itchfield. fui £(yo, to
Elijah Litchfield, Scituate, yeoman, 10 1/4 A. 31 rds. orchard, tillage
and pasture-land, north of Daniel Collier's house. Witnesses: Daniel
and Silas Litchfield. [Vol. Ixxvii : p. 40.]

Apr. 14, 1795 (recorded). Elijah (and Elizabeth, his wife) Litch-
field, Scituate, for ^60, to Israel Litchfield, 9 1/2 A. land near gran-
tee's dwelling-house. Witnesses : Daniel and Josiah Litchfield. [Vol.
Ixxvi: p. 270.] See settlement of estate of Jamess Litchfield, Family
No. 62.

Apr. 6, 1797. Israel (and wife, Sarah) Lhchfield, for $267, to
Cornelius Bates of Dummerston, Vt., 10 A. Scituate land near dwell-
ing of Sarah Whitcomb. Witnesses: Daniel and Sibae Litchfield.
[Vol. cvi: p. 73.]

July 4, 1806. Isaac Litchfield (of Family No. 81) and wife, Sally,
for ^250, to Israel Litchfield, " one half of a Dwelling House being
in Common and undivided between me the said Isaac Litchfield and
James Litchfield and all the Land to me belonging Contigious there-
to," a piece of 20 rds. near house of Alexander Clap; also, another
piece, 2 1/2 A. of Land near dwelling house of John Litchfield, abut-
ted by highway and by land of Stephen Litchfield, of wife of Seth
Stodder, Jr., and of Hannah Litchfield. Witnesses: James Litchfield
and Jesaniah Bates. [Vol. ciii : p. 220.]

366 Lawrence Litchfield and His Descendants.

Dec. 3. 1806. Israel (and wife, Fanny) Litchfield, for $635.92, to
Elijah Litchfield, 14 A. 17 rds. pasture-land near dwelling-house of
John VVhitcomb. Witnesses : Enos and Xoa Litchfield. [Vol. cv :
p. 215.]

June 14, iSo8. Samuel Stockbridgc of Cohasset, gentleman, for
$150, to Israel Litchfield, i A. 115 rds. salt marsh "by the river that
runneth from Lincolns landing to the gulph mill so called." Wit-
nesses: Xoa Litchfield and John Lincoln. [Vol. cviii : p. 275.]

Apr. 12, 1811. Israel Litchfield and wife, Fanny, for $55, to
James Collier of Cohasset, the property of the preceding deed. Wit-
nesses: Milton Litchfield and Anslem Lincoln. [Vol. cxxiv : p. 147.]

May 7, 1813. Israel Litchfield, for $27, to Jaazaniah Bates of
Scituate, yeoman, 86 rds. land near house of Paul Clapp and land of
Job and Joab Litchfield. Witnesses: Millon and Sophia Litchfield.
[Vol. cxx : p. 221.]

Aug. I, 1813. Israel Litchfield, for ^4000, to John Pratt of Co-
hasset, several pieces of property in Scituate, about 50 A. in all, on
highway from I>awrence Litchfield, Jr., to Alexander Clapp's, abutted
by land of Meshach, Joab, Daniel, Barnabas and Elijah Litchfield.
[Vol. cxiii : p. 218.]

Walter Stoddard of North Scituate has in his possession the
original deed, dated May 12, 1792, by which was conveyed from
Israel Litchfield, and his wife, Sarah, for £,6^, to Alexander
Clap, five acres of land with dwelling-house, in Scituate, on the
southerly side of the road leading westerly from Capt. Daniel
Litchfield's. This was at Clapp's Corner. Abutters were James,
Amos and Daniel Litchfield, and the school-house. Witnesses :
Elijah Stodder and Noah l^.attles. Acknowledged Feb. 27, 1793.
Recorded at Plymouth, A})r. 14, 1795. [Vol. Ixxvii : p. 219.]

On Aug. 24, 1 8 12, there was conveyed to John Collamore and
Elisha Gross, both of Scituate, administrators of the estate of
Thomas Gross, a piece of land in Scituate, belonging to Israel
Litchfield, containing 3 A. 45 rds., abutted by Meshach and
Daniel Litchfield, Samuel Hiland ("Hillard") and others. This
conveyance was made by direction of the court at Plymouth, be-
fore Judge Adams, by Major Paul Merritt and Capt. David Old-
ham, appraisers, in order to satisfy a decree of judgment ren.
dered against said Israel Litchfield, in the sum of $807.81.
[Plymouth Co. Deeds, vol. cix : p. 157.]

Fifth Gnicration. 367

There is also a deed of division of land between Jamess Litch-
iicld of Cohasset, Daniel-^ Litchfield and Israels Litchfield, both
of Scituate. Recorded at Plymouth registry, vol. Ixxi : p. 151.

The following mortgage deed is given in full to show the pass-
ing of the title in the old homestead from father to son, as well
as other interesting data. The italics are introduced by the
compiler.

Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Israel Litchfield of Scit-
uate in the County of Plymouth yeoman, in Consideration of Three
'I'housand Seventeen Dollars Ninety two Cents paid by Milton Litch-
field of Scituate aforesaid Shipwright the Receipt whereof I do hereby
acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell and convey unto the said
Milton Litchfield his heirs and assigns, thirty Acres of land be the
same more or less with the dwelling House in which I the said Israel
now live the Barn and other Buildings thereon standing lying and be-
ing in Scituate aforesaid on the Northerly side of the highway that
leads Westerly from Lawrence Litchfield to Meshack Litchfield and
is bounded Southerly by said highway. Westerly by said Meshack
land and land belonging to the heirs of John Pratt and to the heirs
of Elijah Litchfield Northerly by long lane so called and Easterly by
Barnabas Litchfield land and Meshack Litchfield land. Also another
piece of land Containing three quarters of an acre lying in said
Scituate between the highways that lead Westerly from my dwelling
House and bounded Westerly by Samuel Hyland Jun"" land and Dan-
iel Litchfields land and otherways by said highways Also another
])iece of land Containing ten acres be the same more or less lying in
said Scituate bounded Southerly and Easterly by Cornelius Bates
land Northerly and Westerly by \^'illiam Whitcomb's land Also about
two Acres of upland and swamp being in said Scituate at flat swamp
near Mount Hope so called bounded as may appear by a divi.sion
deed between me tlie said Israel James and Daniel Litchfield, refer-
ence thereto being had. Also One half of a lot of Cedar Swamp in
the Town Cedar Swamp, Containing about four acres as may appear
by a deed from Jacob Wade to Daniel Litchfield and me the said
Israel reference thereto being had. Also about an acre of flatts ai
Briggs Harbour in said Scituate lying in Common and undivided be-
tween me the said Israel and Others, Also the One half of the djccll-
ing House in which Joab Litchfield now lives with the land under the
same Also the Om half of a Fau in the Rev'! Mr Thomas Meeting House
whicli has been' Improved by me in Connnon and undivided with the heirs

368 Lawrence T.HehJield and His Descendants.

of Benjamin Bailey. To Have and To Hold the aforegranted Prem-
ises to ihe said Milton Litchfield his Heirs and Assigns, to his & their
use and behoof forever. And I do covenant with the said Milton Litch-
field his Heirs and Assigns, That T am lawfully seized in Fee of the
aforegranted Premises ; That they are free of all Incumbrances That
I have good Right tu sell and convey the same to the said Milton
Litchfield. And that 1 will warrant and defend the same Premises
to the said Milton Litchfield his heirs and assigns, forever, against
the lawful Claims and Demands of all Persons. Provided neverihckss,
That if the said Israel Litchfield his Heirs, Executors, or Administra-
tors, pay to the said Milton Litchfield his Heirs, Executors, Adminis-
trators or Assigns, the Sum of Three Thousand and Seventeen Dollars
and Ninety two Cents within One full year from the date hereof with
legal Interest then this Deed, as also a certain Note of hand bearing
even Date with these Presents, given by the said Israel Litchfield to
the said Milton Litchfield to pay the same Sum at the Time aforesaid,
shall be void ; otherwise shall remain in full Force. In witness where-
of, I the said Israel Litchfield have hereunto set my Hand nnd Seal
this Twenty Sixth Day of December in the Year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered)

m Presence of us ( ^ ^ ^- — -^

, , Ti 'n ) Israel LrrcnriKLD " ^^

lohn B. furner

Plymouth ss. ]3ecembcr 26th, 1826. Then the above named Israel
Litchifield acknowledged the above Instrument to be his free Act and
Deed, before me.

John B. Tukner Just, of Peace.

Received December 27th, 1826, & Recorded.*

/>-. ROSSKTER COTJON Reg"^

The house of Deacon Israel^ Litchfield, on Migli Street, is
now occupied by Mrs. Lily^ Litchfield, widow of Sumner^ Litch-
field, son of Milton^ Litchfield, and by her grandson, Frank
Crane and family, an account of all of whom will appear in order
of the families in tliis Genealogy. A picture of this house is
given herewith. I'rom an examination of the timbers in the
attic and otliev parts of the house there is clear evidence that

* Pl)'mouth County Deeds, vol. cli.x : p. 191.

:: I

"^

i

Fifth Generation. 369

the present structure was rebuilt from a much older house, ante-
dating the occupying of it by Dea. Israel.

At Dedham, the Norfolk County registry contains fourteen
deeds with Israels Litchfield's name as grantor or grantee, one of
these being a partition deed. Abstracts follow :

NORFOLK COUNTY DEKOS.

March 28, 1808. Israel l.itchfield (and Fanny, his wife), for ,^382,
to John Lincoln, Scituate, mariner, one-half acre land and bdgs., in
Cohasset, " part of the real testate of which Gushing Kilby late of
Cohassett died seized & set off & assigned to the above named Fanny
as a part of her share of the Estate of her hon'^ father Cashing Kilby."
Abutters : Thomas Lothrop, John Pratt, Witnesses : Hayward Fierce,
Xoa Litchfield. [Vol. xxxiii : p. 109.]

June 14, 1S08. Samuel Stockbridge of Cohasset, gentleman, for
$4350, to Israel Litchfield, yeoman, the dwelling-house, barn, and 5
A. land of grantor, in Cohasset, "on the northerly side of Cohasset
Harbor." Abutters : Widow Mary Mann, heirs of John Lewis, James
Stoddard, Samuel Pratt, Thomas Brown,' Hector Stockbridge and
Festus Litchfield. Also, all right and title to a wharf and store and
land adjoining -'on northerly side of Cohasset Harbour," which was
formerly part of the estate of Samuel Bates of Cohasset. Witnesses :
Xoa Litchfield, John Lincoln. [Vol. xxxiii : p. 2.]

May 20, 1810. Israel Litchfield (and Fanny, his wife), for $378.68,
to Festus Litchfield, Cohasset, shipwright, 4 A. 1 1 rds. pasture-land
in Cohasset near homestead land of grantee, and abutted by him, '
John Lewis, James Stoddard, Samuel Pratt, Thomas Brown, heirs of
Hector Stockbridge. Witi-iesses: Milton Litchfield,' Anslem Lincoln.
[Vol. liii : p. 203.]

May 7, 181 1, Israel Litclifield (and P^anny, his wife), for $290, to
Caleb Nicholls, gentleman, leather Stephenson, Jr., Elijah Nickinson,
mariner, and Peter Lothrop, all of Cohasset, one undivided third part
of a wharf, one-half of the " old stores likewise undivided between
myself & the heirs of Elector Stockbridge & the half of the Land for
Stores (that was set off in a division deed, between J Turner, S'"
Stockbridge & H Stocbridge) with all the privileges and appertenances
thereunto belonging said \\'harf is bounded Southerly on the meadow
Creek Westerly on the towns Land or highv.ay Northerly on the beach
belonging to Lincoln or Col[l]ier Situate in the Westerly part of Co-
hassett Cove so called said Wharf was formerly the property of S'"
Bates & since the property of Mefs""* Turner and Stockbridge." Wit-

37° Lawrence Litchjield and His JJi'sceHda?its.

nesses : Elisha iJoane, Maria F. Doane, Xoa Litchfield and Anna
Lincoln. [Vol. xxxix: p. 227.]

July 7, 1812. Israel Litchfield (and Fanny, his wife), for S65, to
Huldah Lincoln, Cohasset, widow, one-half acre meadow in Cohas-
set, near the harbor abutted by highway, or common, Caleb Nichols,
a creek, and by Huldah 's other land, all of which land is in right of
Fanny. Witnesses : Milton Litchfield and Hayward Pierce. [Vol.
xliii: p. 28.J

Jan. 19, 1816. Israel Litchfield, for $975, to Nichols Tower of
Cohasset, mariner, one acre land with house, barn, and outhouse, in
Cohasset, near and north of the harbor, formerly owned and occupied
by Samuel Stockbridge and now occupied by Sarah Young and Sarah
Flail, widows, abutted by land of widow Mary Mann, of heirs of John
Lewis, of my son, Festus Litchfield, and by highway or common.
Witnesses: Festus and Penelope Litchfield. [Vol. Hi : p. 33-]

Dec. 9, 1S28, * Israel Litchfield, Fanny, his wife, "in right of .said

Fanny, Frost Hudson of Cohas.set and Sally wife of said

F>ost in right of said Sally and Huldah Lincoln of Cohassett widow
and heirs of Ignatius Oreutt of said Cohassett dec''," for $520, to
Henry Snow, Cohasset, master mechanic, 10 1/4 A. 24 rds. pasture
and field in Cohasset, part of the estate of Ignatius Oreutt, and situ-
ated near land and house cf Mordecai and Abraham Lincoln. Wit-
nesses : W^illiam Lincoln aiad James C. Doane. [Vol. Ixxxvii : p. 161.]

Jan. 26, 1S29. Same grantors, for $224.60, to William Lincoln,
Cohasset, yeoman, 3 3/4^. 12 rds. salt meadow in Cohasset, near
land of grantee; also, 5 -ih A. woodland in Cohasset on south-east
side of Scituate pond, so (called. Witnesses: James C. Doane and
Francis Lincoln. [Vol. Ixsxvi: p. 235.]

Jan. 26, 1829. Same gTantors, for $599.66, to Peter Lothrop, Co-
hasset, gentleman, 19 1/4 A. 15 rds. pasture in Cohasset, near land of
Abraham Lincoln, Moses Pratt, Luther Marble, Jaazaniah Bates, Os-
born W'ood, Thomas Lincwlm and of grantors. [Vol. cxx : p. 181.]

Jan. 26, 1829. Same giantors, for $92.93, to Osborn Wood, Co-
hasset, mariner, 3 1/4 A. to 2/3 rds. woodland in Cohasset, south
east of Scituate pond, abutted by Warren Nichols, Abraham Lincoln,
Peter Lothrop, Thomas Lincoln, Paul Bates and William I>incoln.
Witnesses: James C. Doanre and William Lincoln. Kec. Apr. 15,
1834. [Vol. cii : p. 296.].

Jan. 26, 1829. Same giantors, for §92.93, to Thomas Lincoln,
Cohasset, mariner, 3 1/4 A. 20 2/3 rds. woodland, as above, abutted
by Osborn Wood, Peter Lothrop, Ambrose Bates, Gershom Wheel-

Fifth Genfralion. 371

Wright and Paul Bates. Witnesses as above. Rec. Dec. 21, 1835.
[Vol. ex : p. 10.]

April 13, 1829. Israel Litchfield, for $100, to Jolni Lincoln, Co-
hasset, master mariner, all his right, etc., in the estate of Ignatius
Orcutt of Cohassel, deceased, excepting such part as may be neces-
sary to settle j'jst debts of said deceased. Witnesses: James C.
Doane and William E. Doane. [Vol. Ixxxvii : p. 261.]

Jan. 29, 1830. Israel Litchfield (and wife, Fanny), Frost Hudson
of Cohasset and wife, Sally, and William Lincoln of Cohasset, yeo-
man, for $664, to PJphraim Snow of Cohasset, master mariner, 21 3/4
A. 13 rds. pasture land in Cohasset, abutted by public road to Beech-
woods, Peter Lothrop, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Snow, reserving right
of passage to Abraham Lincoln. Becky, wife of William Lincoln, re-
leased. Witnesses: Francis Lincoln, Thomas Hudson and James C.
Doane. [Vol. xciv: p. 18.]

March 25, 1830. Indenture and division deed between Israel and
Fanny Litchfield of the first part; Frost and Sally Hudson of the
second part ; and William and Becky Lincoln of the third part of 2>2)
A. 6 rds. land in Cohasset, held in common by these parties. Wit-
nesses: Francis Lincoln, Thomas Hudson and James C. Doane.
[Vol. xci: p. 178.]

There are no deeds in Israel's name in Suffolk County regis-
try, Boston.

Part One of the Direct Tax List for 1798 (see footnote, page
305) gives Israel Litchfield as ov.'ner and occupant of a dwelling-
house, out-building, and 40 perches of land, of the assessment
value of $220 ; and Part Two of the same list gives him as the
owner and occupant of the following pieces of land, with assess-
ment values : 37 A. 40 p., $996 ; 14 A. $84 ; 9 A. 120 p., $156;
2 A. 40 p., $30; I A. 80 p., $3 ; 120 p., $8 ; and .120 })., $4;
total, $1,281. In Part One it is entered that James-^ Litchfield
(Family No. 53), his brother, was occupant of a dwelling house
and 40 perches of land owned by James and Israel, the assessed
valuation being S200.

Deacon Israel^ Litchfield was married tivice. His first wife was
Sarah Cass, to whom he
was married at Scituat
Nov. 23, 1778 (First
Church records), by

-^^/ofoA T^^^^^lQ

372 Lawrence Litchfield and His Descendants.

Rev. Ebenezer Grosvenor, of which their intentions were filed
Mar. 28, 1778 (tov.n records). She was the daughter of Abner*
and Irania (Studley) Cass, and was baptized, Nov. 4, 1759 (First
Ch. Rec), probably in infancy. Ilcr birth has not been ascer-
tained. She diedf May 31, 1799.

The second wife of Deacon Israel = Litchfield was Fanny Lin-
coln, widow of Lazarus Lincoln of Cohasset, and daughter of
Gushing and Huldah (Orcutt) Kilby. Litentions of " Deacon
Israel Litchfield of Scituate & widow P^anny Lincoln of Cohas-
set," were recorded at Scituate, Nov. 28, 1801. They were
married Dec. 21, 1801.

The Bible of Fanny (Kilby-Lincoln) Litchfield is in the home
of Miss Martha Reed of Rockland, Mass., a granddaughtei-. It
contains the following family records :

Lazarus Lincoln son of Isaac LincolnJ born Octor 3J A. D. 1756
Fanny Kilby, daughter of Cusliing Kilby§ born July 29''! anno Domini
1763.

Tlicy were married Sep' 171'! A. D. 1781.

* Intentions of "Abner Cass in Irene Studley of Scituate," recorded at Boston,
May 13, 1756. The Scituate town records give the intentions of "Al)ner Cafs of
Boston to Rany Studley of Scituate, January ye 17 : 1756." The First Church
records their marriage: " Abner Cafs of Boston and Rany Studley, Sept. 5, 1756."
The latter records contain the following about this Cass family. " Abner Cat's
Renewd covt & brot his dangt Sarah to Baptifm — 4 Nov : 1759." " liana wife of
Abner Cafs owned ye covt ^ v.as baptifed — 4 Nov : 1759." " Jonathan the Son
of Abner Cafk [Cass] " v.a.-' bapt. by Rev. E. Grosvenor, May 15, 1763. Abner
Cass died between this last named date and April 5, 1766, when intentions of
marriage between his widov/, Iiania, and Nicholas* Litchfield (Family No. 64)
were fded at Scituate. The name, Abner Cass, does not occur in Suffolk County
registry of deeds or in l^lymoulh County probate records to iSSi, and no early
Cass appears in Norfolk County probate registr}'. Irania appears as Lnratiy in
some records.

Book No. 2, Common Sessions Records (at I'lymouth Co. Court-house) states
that Abner " Cask" came to Scituate, Nov. 11, 1757, and was warned out of tmvn,
Nov. 28, 1757. Perhaps he was a descendant of the Mendon or New Hampiiire
Casses.

■\ See quoted records in Family No. 57. The town record : " Wife of Deacon
Litchfield" died in 1799. The First Church record: "The wife of Deacn Israel
Litchfield Jujie," 1799. Buried at Mt. Hope cemetery, probably.

X A descendant of Samuel' Lincoln. Lazarus Lincoln was a Revolutionary
soldier and was present at the suiTender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. See llist.
Hingham, vol. ii: p. 46S, and Afnbrose Bates Diary (George L. Davenport); also
Bigelow's Hist. Cohasset, p. 29S.

§ A resident of Hingham, Second Precinct, /. e. Cohasset, and there are a few
references to him in the above-mentioned histories. The parentage and ancestry
of his wife, Hannah Chcutt, aie found in the History of Hingham, vol. iii : pp.
98, 99- . . . .

Fijik Generation. 373

Their children born as follows.

1. Sami. Kilby born Octo"- lo*!' 17S2. Dec! Nov 23, 17S3.

2. John born January 15111 17S4 Decdjany 7 1834.*

3. Samel Kilby born June 26 1785. Deed Feby Sth 1S09.

4. Lot born April 19 17S9 Deed August 27, 1825.

5. Annaf born October 31st 1791.

6. Ansleniij: born January 19, 1794.

December 5th 1796, being a very severe storm it is beyond all doubt that
Lazarus Lincoln svas Lost at sea.

December 21st 1801 Israel Litchfield and Fanny Lincoln were married.

1. Scrissa tlieir first child born April 14, 1803.

2. Alfred born November iS, 1804.
Serissa died Oct. i8th, 1865.

The First Church of Sciluate records contain the following-
entry : " Fanny Litchfield, a member of the Church in Cohafset
— admitted to our fellowship & communion by a Letter of dis-
mifsal & recommendation from the abo\'e mentioned Chh. June
6th 1802."

l-'"anny§ removed to liast Abington (now Rockland) soon after
the death of her husband, Deacon Israel, s and made her home
with her daughter, Serissn,*^' who lived in the house where Miss
Martha Reed resides, at 80 Market Street, Rockland. She
"arrived at that point in life commonly called death," Sept. 3,

*The entry ol death is not distinct, and it mny be " Jany 9 1834." To this
dale Mr. Davenj-iort, the Cohassct genealogist, takes exception, and say.s that he
died Dcr.jj, 18^2, and adds tlie following data concerning him, whom lie con-
siders identical with Captain John Lincoln, often mentioned in Cohasset history :
" Capt. John married fiist, probably at .Sciluate, Deborah, daughter of Snell and
Charlotte (Otis) Wade, of .Sciluate. Deborah died April 11, 1818, in Cohasset,
aged 32 years. He married second, Feb. 7, 1819, Elizabeth, born I)ec. 13, 17S4,
died Jan. 9, 1S4S, daughter of James and Susanna (Lincoln) Stodder. i)escen-
dants live in Cohasset."

+ Anna married Luther^ I.itrhfidd. ■sow of Lawrence^ (Family No. 121). She
was also called " J'anny," and died in .\lb:on, }'a., in 1851.

j Anslen) and Lot Lincoln becp.nje residents of Malone, N. Y. The following
abstract of the transfer of land was sent by Mr. Davenport. It was given by
Elisha Doane, Justice of the Peace; "8 Mar. 1817— Anslem Lincoln, cordwaincr,
of Malone, in the County of Fraiddin, N. Y., Lot Lincoln, mason, of Malone, anci
John Lincoln of Cohasset, marint-r, and Deborah his wife, to Cummings l>inco!n,
pasture land." Anslem lived to be over 90 years of age, and left sons in Malone,
one of whom was named John.

§ Norfolk Coimty Deeds, vol. cxxviii : fol. 114: Fanny Litchfield, widow, of
East Abington, on April 22, 1840, for $950, conveyed to Charles Pratt of Cohas-
set, stone mason, the field and pasture land with buildings thereon, in Cohasset,
on Bcachwoods street, part of the faim of Ignatius Orcutt, deceased. Witnesses:
Dexter and Xoa Merritt.

374 Lawrmce Lilchjidd ofid //» Descc?tdanfs.

1846, and her body was buried in the cemetery just back of the
house just mentioned, in Samuel Reed's lot.

Deacon Israels Litchfield died on January 15, 1840, and is
buried in Mt. Hope cemetery, Scituate.

There is no record at Plymouth Comity probate office of the
settlement of his estate. It would appear that this was adjusted
before his death, for it is known that owing to his loans and en-
dorsements of notes which went to protest, he lost nearly all of
his property.

Children of Israel Litchfield, all born at Scituate, and re-
corded on the town records, except the eighth child : ■ —

By SornJi :

i. SibA^j,^* b. Apr. 6, 1780; m. 1800, Samuel'^ Stockbridgc,
Jr. (see Family No. 209), her first cousin.

220. ii. XoAt (or Zoa), b. Feb. 19, 1782 ; ni. 1822, " Major " Paul

Merritt, as his second wife.

221. iii. Festus, b. Oct. 18, 1783 ; m. 1S06, Penelope^ Stockbridgc

(of Family No. 58), his first cousin,
iv. Enos, b. Dec. 17, 1785. "In memory $ of Enos, son of
Dea. Israel and Mrs. Sarah Litchfield. Me died Octo-
ber ye i3ti> 1788."

222. V. Enos, b. Aug. 25, 1788; rn. prob. Fanny Smith; les. Bos-

ton and in the West. More information wanted.

223. vi. Milton, b. Jan. 20, 1791 ; m. ist, 18 19, Abigail Otis ; 2d,

1834, Sophia Otis, her sister.
vii. Harvey, b, Aug. 6, 1793. "In memory^ of llarxey, son
of Dea. Israel and Mrs. Sarah Litchfield. He died
Augst ys 21*' 1796 in his 4*'' year,"
viii. Son (no name appears on record), b. Feb. 10, 1796.

'• of Dea. Israel and Mrs. Sarah Litchfield. JIe\\

died Sept y= 8"' 1796, in his 7''' month."

* Morse calls this name, incorrectly: " Sibal."

t This name appears with the spelling " Hoa," on the town record; apparently
the recorder did not know how to make an "X." The form "Zoa," from the
Greek Zoe, occurs quite commonly in Morse and other records.

} This is the inscription on an old .stone in Mt. Hope cemetery, Scituate. See
jjage 299.

^ /l>id. The church record: Died, 1796, "The child of Dec" Israel Litchfield."
See page 29S.

Ii The stone ai Ml. Hope cemetery, from which this imperfect inscription is
taken, is broken at the top. The town record: Died, 1796, "Israel Litchfields
child." There is also a church record. See page 29S.

Fifth Generation. • 375

ix. Sophia, b. h\x^., 1797 ; m. 1838, Thomas^ Litchfield (of
Family No 101), as his second wife.

By Fanny (see IMble record, supra) :

224. X. Skrissa, b. Apr. 14, 1803; 111. ist, 1825, Kowlaiul liailcy ;

2d, 1833, Samuel Reed.

225. ,xi. Alfred, b. Nov. 18,* 1804; in.-i828, Mary Cole.

61

Lot5 LrrcuFiELD {Josiah,^ Nicholas,'^ JosiaJi,''- Lawroice^) was
born in Scituate, November 16, 1755 ; baptized August 29, 1756;
died before December 26, 1783, as determined by his father's
will (page 145). His name appears, also, as " Lott." Men-
tioned in the Diary of his brother, Deacon Israels Litchfield
(preceding family). He' served in the Revolution (see Appen-
dix). There appear to be no data concerning him in Plymouth
County Probate or Land Records. Resided in Scituate.

Morse's LitcJifield Genealogy (1855) says that he was married
tivicc, both wives having the Christian name of Rachel, the latter
-k widow. It is certain that he was married to Rachel^ Litch-
field, daughter of Nicholas'' and Sarah (Studley) Litchfield (see
pages 147-151), the mother of his son, Luther,'' given below.
Their intentions were entered on the Scituate town records, Sept.
27, 1777, aiid the marringe was solemnized by Rev. Ebenezer
Grosvenor, Oct. 26, 1777 (First Church Rec). This Rachel
Litchfield is named in her father's will as "unmarried " in April,
1777. She may have died at or near the time of giving birth to
Luther,^ her death date not appearing.

If Lots had a second wWc, she was the "widow Rachel Litch-
field," to wbiom intentions of marriage were entered at Scituate,
August 4, 1782 (Scituate town records). It has not been de-
termined whose widow this Rachel was. She may have been
the widow of a James Litchfield, Jr. (see footnote, page 274, and"
Family No. 72), or of Josi ili^ Litchfield, pages 279, 280. There
is a hiatus in the First Church marriage records about the lime
that the mairiage would have taken place, so there is no such

* Morse'.^ Lifth^eid Gtneaiogy says " &,"

376 Lmurcncr. Lifi/i/Ir/J otnf ///.'• Desccndauts.

entry therein. Lot^ may have died before a second marriage,
and this seems likely, for no mention is made of a wife of Lot in
the will of his father, but ]m ovision is made therein for Lot's son,
•Luther,'^ "only son and child" (see pap;e 145).
Child of Lots Litchfield :

226. i. Lu'i'HKR.^b. Scit'jate, Feb. 8, 1778; was a carpenter, liv-
ing in Sciluate in 1799. More data desired.

62

Jamks5 LjTCitFiiii.i) [A'ic/wlas,'' Nicholas^^ Josiali^- Laiurcncc')
was born in Scituate, Feb 10, 1738; baptized October 14, 1739.
Resided in Scituate. (jreat-grandfather of the compiler. He
was sometimes called "Jr.," to distinguish him* from his first
cousin, James' (Family No. 53, page 270), who was born in 1734.
Served in the Revolution (see Appendi.x), and perhaps may be
credited with service in the Colonial wars. By will of his father,
he received only fourteen pounds, lawful money (see page 149),
probably because of the gift of his grandfather, mentioned below.

He is described by a descendant as being a man of temperate
and industrious habits, of mild and retiring disposition, but much
beloved. He was a farmer and carpenter. On the town records,
he is mentioned as being a highway surveyor in 1771, as hog-
reeve in 1773 and 1776, and in October, 1782, he was allowed,
by vote, eleven shillings for timber furnished for a bridge. It
appears that he did not take an active part in local afiairs, the
care of a large family occupying his attention and strength until
his untimely death.

The following deed, given in abstract, shows that he was
worthy of encouragement :

Sept. 28, 1780. James Siudley of Scituate, yeoman, for and in
consideration of regard, love and natural affection for his graiidsim,
James Litchfield, Scituate, y^on'»an, deeded him 81 A. land, with
dwelling-house and barn theruon, in Scituate, at and near a place
called "Beach Neck" Abutted by highway leading to Mount Hope;
lands of Levi Newell; cedar swamp lots; land of heirs of James

* For a nickname, see al.>stiact from De.a. .Israel 5 Jit chfield's Diary, page 31;

Fifth C'c/icra/ion. 377

Newell, deceased ; piece of land and orchard belonging to heirs of
Nicholas Litchfield, deceased; excepting i ijz A. within these bounds
belonging to Levi Newell, and a highwa}- to the cedar swa'mp. \\\l-
nesses : Eliab Studlc)- and Israel Yinal, Jr. Recorded at Plymouth,
Oct. 17, 17 So. [Vol. Ix: p. 96.]

It was upon this property that James5 was building a new
house when overtaken by his fatal sickness.

Jamess Litchfield was married huice. The Scituate town
records have the jollowing entries :

Intention of marriage of " M"" James Litchfield, J"" to M^ Anna Gor-
din, both of Scituate, Feb>- 2, 17G0."

Intention of maniage of James '' Lithfield " and Elizabeth Litch-
field, " both of Scituate, Nov. 22,, 1769."

"James Litchfield & Eliz^ Litchfield both of Scitui^te were marr^
Jany ye 7. 1770."

The Scituate First Church Records :

"James Litchfield j"^ & Anna Cordin [married by Rev. Shearja-
shub Bourn] 2 M^'' 1760 "

" James Litchfield &; Elizabeth Litchfield [married by Rev. Eben-
ezer Grosvenor] 9. Jan>\ 1770 "

The 7?7'.y/ wife of James^ Litchfield, as appears by the inten-
tion and marriage records, was Anna Gordin. The peculiar
spelling of the sifrmimc makes it doubtful whether it was Gordon
or Jordan, both surnames (variously spelled) appearing on the
Scituate records in or about this period. JJer birth, parentage,
death, and other data which would help to unravel the mystery
are not at hand. At present no information can be given of her
descendants, if any are Ii\ing. It has been stated by a grand-
daughter* of the second wife of James,^ that Anna's two daugh-
ters, Susannah*^ (Litchfield) Bailey, and Anna^^ (Litchfield) Stone,
removed to some place in Eastern New York, across from Lake
Champlain, and she also said that Anna's family name was
Gordon. No written or printed record has been found to prove

* Mrs. Elizabeth Litchfield^ (Merritt) Mcrritt, now d$
and Sebre* (Litchfield) Merritt, Family No. 233.

^ceased, daughter of Klisha

37^ Lawrence Lifchjifld and If is Descendafits.

this. Morse does not mention her in his Litchfield Genealogy

(1855)-

In the following Warning and Return,* there seems to be a
reference to the above Anna :

Scituate December 31^' 1756 To Samuel Litchfield Jun''t one of
the Constables of Scituate. You are hereby Ordered to warn the
persons hereafter named lo depart forthwith out of Scituate, that is to
say Jabez Hatcht and his wife who came from Marshfield in the
month of September last, and also Ann Gordeii who came frovi Boston
last May, and also Sarah Gent§ who came from Boston last April and
also Lewis Dunald li who came to this town last Summer also John
PeircelF who came to this town last July, also John Conneay who
came from Boston last August also John Holmes** and Wife who
came from Chelsey [Chelsea] last april also Robert Peirce ft who
came from Great Britian and make return of your Doings thereon as
the Same direct

Caleb Torrey ) Selectmen
GiDEOx YiNAL \ of Scituate

* Furnished to the compiler by Charles Otis J-lIlms, G;ecnbiish, Mass., who re-
ceived the -written document for inspection from a friend A. B. Blyston, 329 Maple
St., Buffalo, N. Y., in a letter of April 20, 1903. Besides this notification, there
is another, both of which belong to Mr. Blyston. How they wandered away from
Scituate is a question unanswered. This other paper is a "warning" directed to
Isaac Stetson, constable of Scituate, in regard to " Rachel Garderner who belongs
to Abinton and Came into this Town about Ten Months ago and now resides at
John Hatches," and dated July i, 1766. The signers were: Jos[eph] Cushing,
Jn" C'ushing, Jun., and Gideon Vinall, Selectmen of Scituate. No return appears.

t Family No. 39, page 208. In rhis reference it will be noted that the " rates "
of two persons mentioned in this " warning," viz., Jabez Hatch and John " Con-
way," were allowed to the constable in 1758.

} Scituate First Church records : " William Son of Jabez Hatch late of Manli-
fld baptized 10 April 1757."

§ An examination of Boston printed records shows that there was a Tliomas
Gent in Boston earlier than 1695, and that there were "Gents " and '• Jents" there
in the eighteenth century. On Sept. 3, T766, a Sarah Gent was married to Wil-
liam Martin, and on July 4, 17S7, a Sarah Gent was married to Joseph Sweetser.
This interchange of "G" and "J " noted here gives another example of confused
spelling from similarity of soimds.

li Is this a misspelling of Donald or Dunnell or Donnell ?

Ti Intentions of John Peirce and Anna Cahill, both of Sciuiate, Oct. 30, 1756.
(Scit. town rec.) Married Nov. 25, 1756. (First Ch. rec.)

** Intentions of John Holmes to Hannah Briggs, both of Scituate, Nov. i, i/.jG;
married Dec. 2, 174C. (Scit. town rec.)

tt See footnote, page 261, this Genealogy. Intentions of " Robart " I'eirce to
Marcy Hatch, both of Scituate, Jan. 77, 1756: married- Mch. 15, 1756. (Scit.
town rec.) On June i, 1840, Robert " Pierce," aged 79 years, son of this Robert
and Marcy, was living with I'aul*" Litchfield fof Family No. 102] of Scituate. See
Census of Pensioners of Massctehnsetts. ■\^\'^\^\\•~■\\(^(\ in iS.;i. He was born in Scit
uate, 0>n. 17, 1761.

Fifih Gefirt <7 fiofi .

379

Scituate Februaiy 21, 1757
'1 o the hon'''<^ : Court of Quarter Sessions to be holden at Plymouth
in and for the County of Plymouth on the first tuesday in March A D.
1757. These May inform your honor that I have warned all the
within named persons to depart the town of Scituate as within di-
rected, excepting John Conneay who has left said town

Att[est]. Samuel Leichfikld Jun>- Constable of Scituate.
Received March 4, 1757. /Vr Edward Winslow C/cr.

A True Cojjy of J^er Ord. Examd. Per Edward \^'ins]ow, Clcr. \CIcr-
icus, Clerk.]

The above " warning " is endorsed : " Siuidry persons warned
out of Scituate." The purpose of such a notice was not, as'
might be inferred, to get fid of indigent or undesirable people,
often as such a measure might be good to apply, but was to pre-
vent non-residents from becoming public charges and to notify
them that should they refuse to go they would be considered re-
sponsible and taxable citizens of the town. The "warning" did
not necessarily reflect upon the moral character of any one. It
was a legal action to determine the civic status of the one upon
whom it was served.

If "Ann Gorden"and "Anna Gordin " w^cre identical, then
it is shown that the abo\^e notice did not avail \n her case and
she remained to become a " resident " of Scituate, and to many-
one of its citizens about f(jur years later. Boston records have
(to the appearance of this printed page) failed to show her
identity.

The surname, Gordon, spelled this w-ay, appears rarely upon
Scituate records. The First Church records has the following
entry, but nothing more is knowai of him: '^ Samuel Gor-
don lately come from Ireland, Desiring Comunion with this
Church and presenting his Certificate was admitted Nov^^e.- 4.
1722."

The Second Church records have this entry : "Javics Blank-
inJJiip {Alias Gordon) Son of Anne Blankinfhip, and apprentice
to the widow Rachel Dwell)-, was baptized at the defire of Sd
Dvvelle, Slie being in full Communion w^'^ this Chh." This was

380 Lnivynicc LitchfcU and His Descendant!:.

in 1728. From Pembroke vital records it is learned that James
Blankinship and Ruth Clerk (? Clarke), both of Pembroke, were
married in 1747 (no month or day given), by Rev. Daniel Lewis.
Can anyone solve the connection of "Gordon" with this man's
name ?

In the indexes of wills, administrations and deeds of Plymouth
County registries, there appears to be no entry in tbe eighteenth
century under the name of Gordon of Scituate.

A study of Scituate records shows the frequent occurrence of
the famil}' name of Jordan (variously spelled, once as " Gor-
dcn "), but in the absence of any proof to show that Anna was
of the Jordan family, further discussion of this theory or guess
is left to the Appendix.

The second wife of James^ Litchfield was Elizabeth^ Litch-
field, his second cousin, baptized at Scituate, November 4, 1744,
eldest surviving daughter of Samuel"* and Priscilla* (Vinal) Litch-
field (Family No. 39, pages 208-211). She died December
29, 1835, surviving her husband nearly fifty years. She is de-
scribed by her grand-daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Litchfield'' (Mer-
ritt) Merritt (born in 181 2, died in 1905), as a woman of sedate-
ness and hospitality, and very highly patriotic. When the tea
was thrown overboard in Boston harbor, it is said that Mrs.
Litchfieldf threw her tea-pot against a stone-wall, breaking it,
thus manifesting her displeasure at the levying of the hated tea-
tax. After the death of her husband, leaving a large family
and an unfinished home on her hands, she had a part of the
structure made habitable and there she brought up her family in
an industrious and frugal manner. Lawrence,^ her eldest son,
lived in the same house, and cared for his mother in her declin-
ing days. It is said that she was a remarkable woman for her
time. This house, after the death of Lawrence'" Litchfield, in
1857, became the properly of his son, SamueP Litchfield, and,

* She is named in the Direct Tax List, Pait 2, of 179S, as an occupant of 8 A.
land, assessed value, S136, belonging to the heirs of Samuel Litchfield.

t The compiler has been told by Mrs. Elizabeth Litchfield Merritt, named
above, that Cummings Lincoln of Cohasset (see Hist, of Ntttg/iam, vol. ii : p. 46S)
was waiting upon Elizabeth* Litchfield, at the time of his early death (probably
at sea), in 1765. In memory of him, she named one of her sons.

1 ^

lufth Gciteiation. 381

in turn, it has become the property of William I^awrcnce^ Litch-
field, his surviving son, who lives there at the present time and
who has a son, Lawrence Neil'' Litchfield. The house has been
kept in good condition outside and in, and stands at the bend of
High street, North Scituate, between William Studley's and the
late Sumner" Litchfield's. The front door of the house is,
strangely, on the side opposite to the street, but this is the
south side. In the yard is an old-fashioned well-sweep, and a
pear tree said to be nearly two hundred years old, which still
bears much, though unpalatable, fruit. The compiler has visited
this house a number of times.

It is probable that Anna, first wife of Jamess Litchfield was
buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, but no stone remains to mark
her grave. She died before Nov., 1769. The second wife,
Elizabeth, 5 is buried beside her husband. The inscription on
her gravestone reads : "In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of
Mr. James Litchfield, who died* Dec. 29, 1835." His grave-
stone, at Mount Hope Cemetery, North Scituate, reads : •' In
memory of Mr. James Litchfield who diedf Oct. 10, 1786, aged
48 years." At his grave there was placed in 1S97, through
the efforts of a great-granddaughter, Mrs. Mandana (Clapp)
Morris of North Scituate, a bronze marker of the So7is of iJic
Avierican Revolution. All descendants of Jamess Litchfield are
entitled to join a society like the S. A. R. See the l8gj Year
Book of the MassacJiiisctis S. A. 7v., page 338. The death of
James5 is given also in the Capt. Daniels Litchfield menioran-
dum, page 299.

Janiess died intestate, and administration was granted on
iMarch 28, 1787, to Lawrences Litchfield (Family No. '121),
with Joseph Ellmes, Jr., and Israel-^ Litchfield, as sureties.

* The records of the First Parish, .Scituate, Unitarian, contain the following
entry which undoubtedly is intended to mean the widcnv of James^ : " [Died] 1S35,
Dee! 29, Widow of Lainre?ice Litchfield sair. aged ^j." The town record is ;
" 1835 Dec. 29, Widow Elizabeth Litchfield."

1 It is a common saying that his early death was caused by an illness resulting
from an injury to his head made by his brother, Lothrop^ Litchfield, while the
latter was in an into.vicated condition. James was engaged in building his new
house at the time of the alleged assault.

382 Lawrence Litchfield and His Descendants.

INVENTORY.

A TRUE Inventory* of the Estate, both Real and I'ersonal, of
which James Litchfield late of Scituate in the County of Plymoiitii
yeoman dec'd died seized, apprized by us the subscribers at Scitu-
ate aforesaid, this 30*'' day of March 1787.

To purse & apparel £2: 19:6; To Houshold furniture 28 : 5 : 4 ;
To provisions 15 : 16 : o ; to Leather 1:4:0; To a firearm bayonet
and cartridge box 1:0:0; To Farming Utentials 4 : 19:0; To Live
Stock 30 : 11:0: To about 3/4 of a load of hay i : j o : o ; To boards,
window frames, sashes & glass pro^dded for the fnishing the dwelling
house 5:4: 1 ; Total of Personal [;!^] 99 : 8 : 1 1.

To Real Estate consisting of about Eighty two acres of land with a
dwelling house & barn thereon at ^5 : 5 : o p"" acre — £mo: 10: o.

[Grand total] .^^529: 18: 11

IsRAFX ViNAi, Jun^
Israel Litchfield
. Joseph Ellmes J"^.

BOND of administration.

Know all Men by these Presents, I'hat we LawTence Litchfield yeo-
man Joseph Ellmes Junr Israel Litchfield yeoman all of Scituate in
the county of Plymouth within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto Joseph Cushing
Esq., Judge of the Probate of Wills, and granting Administrations
within the County of Plymouth in the full Sum of One hundred &
fifty Pounds in Lawful Money of the said Commonwealth.

petition for sale of real estate.

Lawrence Litchfield as admr. on y^ estate of James Litchfield Late
of Scituate in s'^. County yeoman deceased [testifieth] that the per-
.sonal estate whereof s*^. deceased died possessed falls short nineteen
pounds 13/9 of being sufficient to discharge y^ just demands thereon
— therefore he prays that he may be empowered to make sale of so
much of the deceased's real estate as will enable him to discharge
the aforesaid sum together with his charges of sale &c

Plymouth iSth. April 1793.

* Plymouth Registry of I'jobate, vol. xxx : p. 170. Italics introduced by com-
piler.

Fifth Geiicraiion. 383

SALE* OF RKAL ESTATE (1793).

To be Sold by Publick \'endiie by order of the Court of Common
Pleas, ^^'ithin and for the County of Plymouth — on thirsday the
thirt)' first day of October next at one of the Clock afternoon at the
dwelling House of the Widow Elizabeth Litchfield in Scituate, Part
of the Real Estate of James Litchfield Late of said Scituate yeoman
dec^. So much Wood Land as will sell For twenty-two pounds thir-
teen Shillings & nine Pence for the Payment of said deceased debts
tS: Charges, or other Improved Lands being Part of the Home Place
upon which said ])ec'^ Last Lived & Dyed near the Said Elizabeth
Litchfields: For further Information Enquire of the Subscriber

Scituate September y^ 26 day A. D. 1793

The property sold at this " Publick Vendue " was conveyed to
Lawrence'' Litchfield, Jr., -son of James,^ as appears by the fol-
lowing deed.

LAWRENCE? LITCHFIELD TO LAWRENCE^ LITCHFIELD, JR .

To all persons to whome these presents Shall Come, Lawrence
Litchfield of Scituate in the County of Plymouth Gent'" Administrator
on the Estate of Jarnes Litchfield Late of Scituate aforesaid yeoman
Deceas'^ Sendith Greeting &c. Know ye that I the said Lawrence
Litchfield for and in Consideration of Twenty Two pounds thirteen
Shillings and nine pence to me as Administrator on the Estate of
James Litchfield afores^ deceas'' in hand paid before the delivery
hereof by Lawrence Litchfield Jr of Scituate aforesaid Yeoman, have
& Do by these presents, In my Capacity as Administrator on the
Estate afores'' by virtue of the Authority & power to me granted by
the Court of Common Pleas begun & held at Plymouth aforesaid on
the third Tuesday of April A. D. 1793, to Sell & pass Deeds to con-
vey of the said Deceas'' . real Estate where it can best be Spared to
the amount of twenty two pounds thirteen Shillings &: nine pence for
tlie payment of the Debts of the said James Litchfield deceas'^. and
the Charges of Sale, Give grant bargain Sell convey and Confirm unto
him the said Lawrence Litchfield Jr his heirs & assigns forever, a
Certain piece of Land containing nine acres one Quarter and one
rod, Laying and being in Scituate aforesaid in the North Easterly

* Piymouih Registry of Probate, vol. xx.xiii: p. 471. The name of the " sub-
scriboi," omitted at the end of the notice, was probably the petitioner, Lawrence
Litchfield, admnr. The two preceding documents are also recorded at Plymouth.

384 Laii'icnre Lilchfield and His Descendants.

part of Beach neck (so called) bounded as follows Viz. beginning at
the South East corner of a field belonging to Levi Newill, thence
runeth South near one rod to a Stone wall fence thence easterly w ilh
said fence Seven rods & fifleen Links thence South Seventy four &:
an half Degrees East about forty rods to the Cedar Swamp Line,
thence Northerly and Westerly with the said Cedar Swamp Line to
Land Belonging to Levi Newill aforesaid thence with said Levi
Newill Land to the first mentioned bound, with all the priviledges
and appurtenances thereunto belonging the same being struck of to
the said Lawrence Litchfield Jr at Two pounds, Nine Shillings pr.
Acre he being the Highest Eider at a publick Vendue Legally noti-
fied held at the dwelling House of Elizabeth Litchfield in Scituate
aforesaid on the thirty first Day of October A. D. 1793.

To have and to Hold the above granted & Bargained Premises to
him the said Lawrence Litchfield, his heirs and Assigns to bis and
their proper use and behoof forever.

In witness whereof and by virtue of the authority aforesaid I the
said Lawrence Litchfield, have hereunto set my hand and Seal this
third day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand Seven
hundred & Ninety three. N, B. the Word " degree " was interlink
before Sign? & Sealing;

Signd Seal'i & Deliv'

in presence of ( , _. /f^

/^ . , ^ , , / Lawrence Litchfield (( sk.,.. ,,

Israel Litchfield ( - V-^—^^s^

Azotus Litchfield )

Plymouth ss. November 8'^: Day A. D. 1793 then Mr. Lawrence
Litchfield personally appeared, Acknowledge' the foregoing Instrumenr
by him subscribed to be his free Act and Deed
Before me

Israel Vinal Just Peace
Received November 12 1793 & Recorded /r Me

RossE'iER Cotton Reg"" :

I'lymoutli, Mass., Nov. 22, 1906.

The foregoing is a true copy from Plymouth Co. Reg. of I)eeds,
Book 73, page 283.

Attest : John B. Washburn, Register.

The following- deed shows how james^-' Litchfield (Farnil) Xo,
230) disposed of his share of his father's estate to Elijah'^ Litch-
field (Family No. 200).